Who Should I Start? Kayshon Boutte or Arian Smith

Tuesday, April 21, 8:53 AM

New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said that wide receiver Kayshon Boutte is not present this week for the start of voluntary offseason workouts, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. The Patriots and Boutte have been in communication, but the 23-year-old wideout has chosen to stay away from the team after a report surfaced on Monday that Boutte's name has come up in trade talks as he enters the final year of his contract in 2026. The Pats signed former Packers receiver Romeo Doubs in free agency, and they are expected to complete a trade for Philadelphia Eagles pass-catcher A.J. Brown after June 1, making Boutte expendable. Boutte was the Patriots' sixth-round pick in 2023 out of LSU. He only appeared in five games in his rookie campaign, but he's gone over 500 receiving yards in each of the last two seasons, and he scored a career-high six touchdowns in 14 regular-season contests (10 starts) in 2025. If New England does indeed acquire Brown from Philly, Boutte's best chance for a boost in fantasy value will be via a trade to another organization.