A March addition in Foxborough will look to catch on elsewhere in December.
The 3-10 New England Patriots agreed to waive veteran wide receiver K.J. Osborn in a mutual decision on Tuesday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Osborn, 27, had agreed to terms with the organization on a one-year, $4 million contract as an unrestricted free agent. The deal brought $3.18 million fully guaranteed, including a $2 million signing bonus, as well as the chance to earn a maximum value of $6 million.
But Osborn’s chances would become few and far between on a depth chart trending toward youth development. After starting the initial four games of the season, the Buffalo Bulls and Miami Hurricanes product would go on to appear in only three more.
Osborn caught seven passes for 57 yards and scored his lone touchdown of the fall against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. He saw 18 targets across 232 offensive snaps. His last were logged against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
“Look, he’s been in this league for a long time, and he’s a professional,” head coach Jerod Mayo said of Osborn’s role during a November press conference. “He understands the active/inactive part of it. I would say he just needs to continue to do what he’s doing, and that’s to go out there, practice hard and be a good teammate.”
A healthy scratch for three consecutive weeks heading into the bye, the vested Osborn will be subject to the league’s claiming period since the trade deadline has passed. His exit marks the second in the wide receiver room over the past month, following the waiving of former No. 50 overall pick Tyquan Thornton, who now resides on the practice squad of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Entering the NFL with the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2020 draft, Osborn played exclusively on special teams as a rookie. But from the perimeter to the slot, the 6-foot, 200-pound wideout went on to turn 158 receptions into 1,845 yards and 15 touchdowns over his next 50 games. His run in the NFC North spanned 30 starts, with a dozen being accrued last campaign.
“I’m always just trying to elevate everyone else around me,” Osborn told reporters during his introductory video conference last spring. “I want the best out of myself, so I expect my teammates to push me in that way and I’ll push them in that way, the same way. And then we all come together and that’s how you win games and build a good locker room and things like that. The Patriots are getting a first-class person and this is a first-class organization.”
Yet with four games left to play, the Patriots will move forward with an active depth chart of five out wide. The group includes tenured veteran Kendrick Bourne, NFL sophomores DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte, as well as 2024 draft choices from Washington and Central Florida who have yet to emerge.
Ja’Lynn Polk stands with 12 catches for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns through 31 throws sent his direction, while fellow rookie Javon Baker has been targeted once and returned a trio of kickoffs for 79 yards.
Their next opportunities will arrive at State Farm Stadium against the Arizona Cardinals. Sunday’s kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET.