New England Patriots
Boutte’s future in New England may very well be doubtful following the potential arrival of A.J. Brown subsequent month.
There have been loads of eyes on the Patriots’ broad receiver corps this offseason — especially when it comes to A.J. Brown’s potential arrival early next month.
However might the previous All-Professional receiver’s addition to New England’s roster doubtlessly imply the top of Kayshon Boutte’s tenure in Foxborough?
Boutte — who had 33 catches for 551 yards and 6 touchdowns over 14 video games final season with New England — has not been a participant in New England’s voluntary offseason exercises in Foxborough, with ESPN’s Mike Reiss reporting on Sunday that the 24-year-old wideout is figuring out on his personal away from the group facility.
Throughout an look on 98.5 The Sports activities Hub on Monday morning, Reiss was requested about Boutte’s absence and whether or not or not Brown’s anticipated addition has performed an element in Boutte’s murky standing transferring ahead.
“You’re insinuating one thing — the insinuation is that Boutte could be moved,” Sports activities Hub radio host Fred Toucher requested Reiss. “Due to AJ Brown, there could be a redundancy, and Boutte’s not coming as a result of he is aware of he’s being moved.”
“I believe that will be one thing that wouldn’t shock me,” Reiss stated. “I don’t know if that’s what’s going to occur. I don’t know if it ought to occur. He performed very well for them final yr.”
If the A.J. Brown commerce involving the Patriots and Eagles does go down, the writing seems to be on the wall that New England wants to maneuver one other wideout or two this summer time — particularly after the Patriots already signed Romeo Doubs to a four-year contract in March.
However what might New England get in the event that they deal away a reliable deep ball risk like Boutte?
Sports activities Illustrated’s Albert Breer gave his perception on what New England is likely to be searching for as a part of a commerce involving the previous LSU standout
“Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte, I believe, may very well be had for a fifth- or sixth-round draft choose proper now, if anybody has an curiosity in him,” Breer wrote on Monday.
That may seemingly be low worth for a gifted receiver in Boutte who developed a robust rapport with Drake Maye final season — and will conceivably complement a number of NFL wideout corps as a reliable goal on exterior throws because the X-receiver.
However with New England already having loads of mouths to feed subsequent season (particularly if Brown comes on board subsequent month), the Patriots may decide to maneuver on from Boutte now — particularly with the 2023 sixth-round choose additionally coming into the ultimate yr of his contract and due for strong increase subsequent summer time.
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