The San Francisco 49ers may need to make one final change to their evolving receiving corps by exploring a trade for New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte.
According to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, Boutte is likely available for a late pick in next year’s draft.
“Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte, I think, could be had for a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick right now, if anyone has an interest in him,” Breer wrote in a column published Monday.
Boutte is coming off back-to-back productive years in New England where he caught a combined 76 of 114 targets for 1,140 yards and nine touchdowns. As he enters the final year of his rookie contract, it makes sense that the Patriots would look to move on from a player they don’t intend on paying when he hits unrestricted free agency next offseason.
For the 49ers the addition comes at the cost of a late-round pick in next year’s draft. Boutte is also due to count for just $3.7 million against the salary cap in the 2026 season, so the financial risk is relatively low.
But where would Boutte fit into the 49ers’ revamped receiving corps?
This would be a move to bolster depth at a position where health is a massive question mark for the three players atop the 49ers’ depth chart. Mike Evans dealt with a nagging hamstring issue a season ago that limited him to eight games. Ricky Pearsall missed eight games with a knee injury, and Christian Kirk has played a combined 33 games across the last three seasons.
Boutte would be fourth or fifth on the depth chart, but that could be a valuable position the 49ers should at least consider putting a veteran at instead of relying on unproven players like De’Zhaun Stribling, Jacob Cowing or Jordan Watkins.
Demarcus Robinson likely holds that role down going into 2026, but Boutte does bring enough value that he could win that battle. He’s still just 24-years old and he was hit for only one drop last season per Pro Football Focus, while holding a career contested catch win rate of 60.7 percent. He also threatens defenses vertically in a way other 49ers pass catchers don’t, notching an average depth of target of 16.2 yards in his career. Having a deep threat who’ll win contested throws would be extremely valuable for a quarterback like Brock Purdy who likes to push the ball down the field.
Perhaps the 49ers feel good about their receiving corps as constructed. Should that entire unit stay healthy a player like Boutte wouldn’t likely see the field much. They also invested a fourth-round pick in Watkins and a second-round pick in Stribling, and in the past the 49ers have preferred leaning on in-house options before turning to the free agency and trade markets.
Still, San Francisco should assess how they feel about the health atop their receiving corps and whether they have the depth to withstand an injury or two. If the answer to either of those questions is pessimistic, Boutte should be a player on their radar.
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This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: 49ers should explore trade for Patriots $3.6 million wide receiver
Reporting by Kyle Madson, Niners Wire / Niners Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
