Andrew Buller-Russ
After becoming a bit of a laughingstock in the past two seasons under Antonio Pierce and Pete Carroll, the 2026 Las Vegas Raiders have been working tirelessly to change the narrative. Now armed with another new head coach in Klint Kubiak and a reworked QB room led by veteran Kirk Cousins and No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders believe they have the right foundation in place.
Yet, the Raiders may still be missing some pieces. One of the areas that’s been highly scrutinized in recent years is the receiver room. Should the Raiders add more competition? One NFL analyst thinks the Raiders could become active on the trade market in the near future.
Recently, ESPN’s Dan Graziano suggested that the Raiders could swing a trade for New England Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte. The 24-year-old former sixth-round pick reportedly wants a trade after the arrival of A.J. Brown, and Graziano believes the Raiders would make a lot of sense.
“The Patriots have received calls on Boutte and likely will continue to do so. And as always, unless and until we see a contract extension, we’re justified in wondering whether the player is in the team’s long-term plans. The Raiders and Commanders stand out as two teams that could still use help at wide receiver.”
ESPN’s Dan Graziano on Kayshon Boutte trade
After being limited to just 19 yards as a rookie, Boutte has posted productive seasons in back-to-back years. In 2024, he recorded 43 receptions for 589 yards and three touchdowns. Last season, Boutte had 33 receptions for 551 yards and six touchdowns. Yet, he doesn’t appear to be a central figure in the team’s future, as they’ve since traded a first-round pick for A.J. Brown and signed Romeo Doubs to a $68 million contract.
Meanwhile, the Raiders have a competitive receiver room led by $35 million free agent signee Jalen Nailor, Tre Tucker, 2025 second-round pick Jack Bech, and 2025 fourth-round pick Dont’e Thornton. There’s room for multiple playmakers to step up, but it’s possible the Raiders internally feel like they could still use one more pass-catcher with star upside, and Boutte could be part of the solution.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders Have One of NFL’s ‘Most Improved Position Groups’
