The Minnesota Vikings had to make some tough roster decisions this offseason. One of those hard choices was allowing wide receiver K.J. Osborn to leave the team as a free agent after his rookie contract ended.
A fifth-round pick of the Vikings in the 2020 NFL Draft, Osborn played in 59 games for Minnesota where he was a solid No. 3 option for Kirk Cousins. His play with the purple and gold led to the receiver-needy New England Patriots signing him.
Disaster continues for former Vikings draft pick in the 2024 season
At first, K.J. Osborn seemed like a great fit for the Patriots in 2024. An established pass-catcher helping a rookie quarterback on a team that needed talent at the position, the one-year, $4 million contract seemed like a solid deal for both sides.
Fast forward to after Week 14 and the results are not what most would have expected. Osborn has only played in seven games for the Patriots and was targeted a total of 18 times by the quarterback, catching seven of those passes for 57 yards, one touchdown, and two first downs.
The situation led to a mutual decision between the New England Patriots and K.J. Osborn to part ways. NFL insider Adam Schefter shared the news of Osborn's waiving on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
Patriots are waiving WR K.J. Osborn, per source. It was a mutual decision, and he now will have a chance to catch on to a team where he will be able play more. pic.twitter.com/kQhrnAnHt0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 10, 2024
Osborn's struggles in New England could have an impact on looking for a team as a free agent. He is subject to waivers, but could clear them considering his contract would likely have implications on his new team's salary cap.
If he clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any interested team. That could include the Minnesota Vikings if they want to reunite with Osborn on an inexpensive contract to keep him on the 53-man roster or the practice squad to wait for an opportunity to suit up.
Whether he lands with the Minnesota Vikings or not, this likely isn't the last the NFL has seen of K.J. Osborn. The 27-year-old wide receiver is bound to catch on somewhere even though his time with the New England Patriots was forgettable. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the former purple and gold pass-catcher as his first four years in the league were much more fruitful than his most recent one and teams are always hoping to get a decent player at a reasonable price.