The Pittsburgh Steelers shipped polarizing wide receiver George Pickens to the Dallas Cowboys for a third-round pick and a day-three pick swap. The move came amid several rumors surrounding Pickens’s being on the market. While not of the same caliber, a New England Patriots receiver has also recently been the subject of trade rumors.
Back in April, NFL Insider for Fox Sports Jordan Schultz on X named Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte as a “name to watch” in trade discussions after the hiring of Mike Vrabel.
This report came before the 2025 NFL Draft, and before the Patriots added another receiver to the team with a Day 2 pick. The Patriots’ wide receiver room is crowded, paving the way for the Patriots to shop one of their receivers.
For this trade idea, the Patriots ship the 23-year-old Boutte to the Steelers for a sixth-round pick. The Steelers need more wide receiver depth, and Boutte would be a solid addition with two years left on his rookie deal.
New England would consider this due to their crowded wide receiver room. With Stefon Diggs, Kyle Williams, and Demario Douglas making up the starting three receivers, the Patriots already don’t need a starter.
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (9) catches a pass for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in the first quarter at Highmark Stadium.
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
The Patriots also have plenty of backup options. Kendrick Bourne, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Javon Baker are all solid backups, while Mack Hollins and Efton Chism II are candidates to make the roster.
It’s a nine-player deep room, and even after trading Boutte, the Patriots would still likely need to move another receiver. Boutte makes the most sense, as Polk and Baker are in year two, while Chism and Hollins aren’t likely to hold much value. Bourne is also unlikely to be traded due to his contract.
Part of why Boutte holds the most value is what he showed in 2024. Boutte had 43 receptions for 589 yards and three touchdowns for New England in 2024. His second year in the league was good enough for a team to take a chance on him in 2025.
There might be no better fit for Boutte than in Pittsburgh. He immediately gets a chance to start and would have a much better chance of playing time than in New England.
This trade idea would be an excellent fit for everyone involved. It cleans up the Patriots’ wide receiver room while adding a draft pick, and Boutte gets a better shot at earning meaningful snaps. The Steelers also come out strong, adding much-needed wide receiver depth after the trade of Pickens.
