Patriots
“I think the Patriots will keep looking for ways to build up their war chest of draft picks.”
The Patriots’ focus this week might revolve around the 2025 NFL Draft.
But Eliot Wolf and the rest of New England’s top brass are reportedly also leaving no stone unturned when it comes to reshuffling a rebuilding roster.
Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz noted on Wednesday that the Patriots are open to trading players from the previous coaching staff, with wide receiver Kayshon Boutte tabbed as “one name to watch” moving forward.
Schultz’s report is far from an outlier.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter penned a story on Monday that mapped out a list of players “on rookie contracts who could be deemed expendable” — with Boutte making the list as a potential trade chip for New England.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer also tabbed Boutte as a trade candidate during the NFL Draft.
“If there is no trade down, I think the Patriots will keep looking for ways to build up their war chest of draft picks, maybe even with a trade of a veteran like receiver Kayshon Boutte,” Breer wrote.
The 22-year-old Boutte was one of the few positive developments for the Patriots during the 2024 season — with the 2023 sixth-round pick reeling in 43 catches for 589 yards and three touchdowns across 15 toal games.
But Boutte might be on the outside looking in within New England’s receiver corps moving forward.
Beyond any potential additions via the NFL Draft, the Patriots added Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency — while both DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne are also on the roster.
Even though Boutte was more productive than 2024 rookie Ja’Lynn Polk, it also seems unlikely that the Patriots will move on from Polk after just one season — considering his label as a second-round pick.
Moving Boutte could help New England secure another pick ahead of Thursday’s draft — with the Patriots currently holding onto nine picks, including a pair of third-round, fifth-round, and seventh-round selections.
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