Patriots ship Boutte to Texans, add Reed to anchor safety depth

New England traded wide receiver Kayshon Boutte to the Houston Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round pick, freeing about $2.7 million in cap space and reshaping the Patriots’ WR depth behind A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. Boutte had been a productive target for Drake Maye, but New England’s evolving depth chart and Reed’s versatility—plus the team’s look to deploy more three-safety looks—made the deal make sense, while Reed provides cost-controlled depth at safety going forward.