Amid swirling rumors about a possible trade and his absence from voluntary offseason activities, wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has confirmed he will be present at the New England Patriots’ mandatory minicamp this week.
The 24-year-old made this announcement to WBZ on Saturday while at King Street Memorial Park in Franklin, Massachusetts. Boutte, who is preparing for his fourth NFL season, had invited fans via social media to join him for some pickup touch football and basketball games as part of his training regimen.
“I try not to buy into it,” Boutte shared with the station regarding the trade speculations. “At the end of the day, I can control what I can control. As long as I’m doing what I’m supposed to do off the field, everything else will play out.”
Speculation has been rife that Boutte might be involved in a trade deal soon.
His decision to skip voluntary sessions for the first time in his career has fueled these rumors, especially as the Patriots’ wide receiver lineup has become crowded with the high-profile acquisition of A.J. Brown and the signing of Romeo Doubs.
The 2026 season will be an important one for Boutte, who is set to become a free agent next year.Â
Drafted by the Patriots in the sixth round in 2023, Boutte had an underwhelming rookie season before hitting his stride. He has since topped 500 receiving yards in each of the last two years.Â
In 29 games over the last two seasons, the LSU product posted 76 receptions for 1,140 yards with nine touchdowns. The likelihood of Boutte having to take a backseat role in the passing game amid the latest additions has certainly helped fuel the trade rumors.Â
The Patriots could always dub him as a secondary target for quarterback Drake Maye as well.Â