Who Should I Start? Tyquan Thornton or Kayshon Boutte

Tuesday, May 7, 3:03 PM

The Athletic's Chad Graff believes the New England Patriots will be content cutting both wide receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Tyquan Thornton this year after they added rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker with two of their first five draft picks this year. The team would have to eat more than $9 million in dead money if they decide to cut Smith-Schuster. Thornton is the only true speedster in the receiver room, but the former second-rounder in 2022 out of Baylor has been a disappointment in his first two NFL seasons. In 22 total games (12 starts), the 23-year-old has just 35 receptions on 68 targets for 338 yards and two touchdowns. Right now, Kendrick Bourne, Polk, Demario Douglas, Baker, K.J. Osborn and Jalen Reagor figure to be on the final roster at the position.

Saturday, December 30, 2:53 PM

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (illness) has been ruled out for Sunday's Week 17 game against the Buffalo Bills. Boutte did not even make the trip with the team to Buffalo. The rookie wideout has appeared in just four games this season, usually as a healthy scratch, so his absence on Sunday shouldn't affect the offense too much. With JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle) also being ruled out for Sunday, the Patriots will continue to rely on Demario Douglas and DeVante Parker to lead their depleted receiving corps.