Texans updated WR depth chart after Kayshon Boutte trade makes for exciting group

The Houston Texans got some brutal news in the last week or so, as Jayden Higgins suffered a season-ending injury, knocking out the Texans' No. 2 wide receiver.

While Nico Collins is a good No. 1 option for C.J. Stroud, they really needed some more help in the WR room following this injury. They've found that help in a trade with the New England Patriots.

Tom Pelissero of The Ringer reports the Texans are trading for Kayshon Boutte, adding much-needed WR help. Looking at the updated depth chart after the Boutte trade, it's an exciting group of WRs for Houston, and one that has a lot of upside.

Texans' WR room after Kayshon Boutte trade is exciting

"Trade! The Patriots are sending WR Kayshon Boutte to the Texans for safety Jaylen Reed and a draft pick, sources tell @ringer @netflixsports," Pelissero reports.

This trade, of Reed and a draft pick, which wound up being just a 2028 seventh-rounder, is a nice one for the Texans. While they lose a young safety in Reed, they land a great new WR to bolster the depth chart that was in dire need of help.

Now, the Houston WR room looks as follows: Nico Collins, Kayshon Boutte, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, Tank Dell, Justin Watson, Lewis Bond, Sterling Shepard, Zay Jones, Josh Kelly, Jared Wayne, Jha'Quan Jackson, and Treyvhon Saunders."

This new-look WR room has a lot more stability than it did right after the Higgins season-ending injury. Even without Higgins, this WR group looks to be a solid one for 2026.

MORE: Texans linked to Rashod Bateman and Kayshon Boutte amid trade talks for WR help

Collins and Boutte as the No. 1 and No. 2 WRs is nice, and having Hutchinson, Noel, and Dell as the main depth options is not bad either. Watson wouldn't be a terrible sixth WR for the Texans as well.

A lot of the depth options will wind up being released, but they could return to the practice squad, and having veterans like Jones and Shepard would be nice for the Texans this upcoming season.

Drake Maye and the Patriots made the Super Bowl with Boutte and Stefon Diggs, along with a cast of mediocre backups. The Texans WR room is better, and with a better defense than New England had, only Stroud and the offensive line are a question mark.

This is a very exciting trade for the Texans, as adding Boutte more than helps fill the hole that Higgins left behind and gives the WR room the upside it was lacking. Boutte is a fun addition, and Texans fans should be happy with the move for the ex-Patriots WR.

More NFL news:

• Browns given 80% chance of trading Cedric Tillman amid crowded WR room
• Why Vikings have only a 30% chance to trade J.J. McCarthy after QB1 decision
• Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux has 30% chance of being traded
• Cowboys projected to have 90% chance of trading Marist Liufau
• Dolphins have the NFL’s worst WR, TE, Edge, CB and S rooms according to ESPN