Chiefs, Raiders floated as landing spots for dynamic 78-catch wide receiver

Chiefs, Raiders floated as landing spots for dynamic 78-catch wide receiver originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The New England Patriots fell short in the Super Bowl last season, but they have hopes of getting back and winning it in 2026. 

As a result, the team has made some big changes this offseason. The wide receiver position, in particular, has seen some changes, with Romeo Doubs being added in free agency and A.J. Brown was added via trade. Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, and DeMario Douglas are all still around as well, so the room is crowded. 

This has led to Kayshon Boutte being frequently mentioned in trade rumors. Boutte was productive in 2025, and several teams could use better depth. Now, it seems like two divisional rivals could be fighting for the LSU product. 

Chiefs, Raiders named among best fits for Boutte

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently listed the best trade candidates, and Boutte made the list. Regarding possible destinations, Knox thinks the Chiefs and Raiders both make a ton of sense. 

“Boutte is entering the final year of his rookie deal, and it feels increasingly unlikely that his future will be in New England,” said Knox. “According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, New England has “received calls on Boutte and likely will continue to do so.”

In 2025, Boutte played in 14 games with 10 starts and caught 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns. The receiver showed promise, but he may not get enough targets in 2026. 

Boutte is only under contract for one more season, so he definitely wants to have a big season. 

Chiefs or Raiders? 

The Chiefs currently have Tyquan Thornton, Xavier Worthy, and Rashee Rice penciled in at wide receiver. Rice is notoriously unreliable for multiple reasons, Worthy has never been a top target, and Thornton is pretty much just a deep threat. 

As a result, it would make plenty of sense for the Chiefs to be interested. There’s not much at the receiver position to be excited about, and  Boutte would benefit from playing with another elite quarterback like Patrick Mahomes. 

As for the Raiders, their receiver position is even more dire. The team is slated to start Jack Bech, Tre Tucker, and Jalen Nailor. None of those options have ever been top targets, so this may be Boutte’s best option if he wants to be a top dog. 

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