Tag: K.J. Osborn

Two more Patriots players named as trade candidates after Joshua Uche move

Joshua Uche was the first trade move by the Patriots, but it might not be the last

The NFL deadline is approaching and two New England Patriots players have been considered as potential trade candidates.

Wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and wide receiver K.J. Osborn are listed as potential trade candidates, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Bourne has eased his way back into the Patriots offense ever since returning from the ACL injury he suffered last season. He has four catches for 29 yards on the year. Osborn was signed to a one-year deal in free agency in the offseason. He has struggled to find a role in the Patriots offense and has recorded only seven catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.

Rapoport and Pelissero believe these two are the most viable candidates for New England to be traded:

While Kendrick Bourne is the receiver who has garnered most of the trade rumors, it would take a large deal to pry him from New England. A more likely trade possibility as a veteran option is Osborn, who is on a one-year deal and has thrived elsewhere.

The Patriots have already been active ahead of the trade deadline in their decision to ship linebacker Joshua Uche to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2026 sixth-round draft pick.

Could another major move be on the way?

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Watch: Patriots QB Drake Maye delivers touchdown strike to K.J. Osborn

The Patriots didn’t win, but this Drake Maye touchdown pass was impressive

The New England Patriots needed an offensive spark in the second half of Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and when they needed it most, rookie quarterback Drake Maye connected with veteran wide receiver K.J. Osborn in the end zone for six points.

It was Maye’s second touchdown pass of the game and Osborn’s first touchdown reception of the season. Maye’s control of the offense was one of the few positives to take away from the game for New England. They failed to come away with the victory, but they got another solid showing from their young quarterback.

They’re hopeful this highlighted touchdown pass is a sign of things to come.

Maye now has five touchdown passes in his first two games as a starter in the NFL. Even with the team losing, the rookie quarterback is continuing to build on a strong start to his career.

If anything, he’s giving Patriots fans a reason to be excited for the future.

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Jerod Mayo’s blunt reason for Patriots’ veteran wideouts being benched

Jerod Mayo explained the recent shake-up at wide receiver for the Patriots

There were a couple of significant changes on the New England Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart ahead of Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.

Tyquan Thornton was a healthy scratch for the game, and K.J. Osborn didn’t take a single snap. Meanwhile, second-year wideout Kayshon Boutte saw an increased number of snaps.

Osborn has been a complementary piece on a Patriots wide receivers unit struggling to find production. He has tallied five catches for 31 yards, while Thornton has caught two passes for 27 yards.

“You can put it – it’s the same thing that we’re going through with the offensive line,” Mayo said, per a team-provided video, via NESN.com’s Sean T. McGuire. “I think when I look at the film, it’s Boutte, it’s Pop (DeMario Douglas), it’s (Kendrick Bourne).

“We need the rest of those guys to step up and make plays.”

All three of the above-mentioned wideouts have experience in the Patriots’ offensive system. Douglas had a tremendous game against the Texans, leading all receivers with six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

Thornton and Osborn both have work to do to regain their original spots on the roster. Boutte caught a 40-yard touchdown pass in Sunday’s game against the Texans.

It’ll be worth watching to see if the wide receiver combinations remain the same for the rest of the season.

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Patriots receiver earns Week 2 Community MVP award by NFLPA

Patriots receiver earns Community MVP honors in Week 2

New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn was named the NFLPA Community MVP for his work with the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club in Roxbury, Massachusetts.

According to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson, Osborn gave away free sneakers at his “Kicks for Kids” event.

Osborn has quickly settled into New England life over the past couple of months. He was signed by the team back in March, and he played a sizable role in Sunday’s 16-10 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The wide receiver recorded three catches for 21 yards on a team-high six targets.

Osborn is expected to have a big role in the Patriots’ offense moving forward, as they try to continue to establish their offensive identity with a new coaching staff.

According to the NFLPA, the award winner will receive a $10,000 donation to their foundation or charity of choice.

Osborn is clearly making an impact both on and off the field. Here’s hoping he continues to excel in both areas in New England.

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K.J. Osborn studying Pro Bowl WR for more chemistry with Jacoby Brissett

K.J. Osborn is studying a five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver ahead of the season

New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn has been studying a former Cleveland Browns receiver as he looks to build chemistry with quarterback Jacoby Brissett.

According to Osborn, he has been watching tape of five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper.

Cooper has been a major source of production for the Cleveland Browns since he arrived in 2022. He has tallied 150 catches for 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns in two seasons with Cleveland. He recorded 78 catches for 1,160 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022 when he was teammates with Brissett.

Osborn is one of many new faces in the wide receivers room, as the organization has undergone a revamp at the position. He is using Cooper’s tape as something to draw on to help build more chemistry with Brissett on the football field.

Building chemistry with Brissett is going to be important for all of the receivers considering he’ll likely be the starting quarterback for the team in Week 1.

It’s encouraging to see Osborn leave no stone unturned in his bid to be successful in his first year in New England.

K.J. Osborn gives lofty comparison to Patriots’ rookie WR

K.J. Osborn gave a lofty comparison to a rookie teammate

New England Patriots rookie wide receiver Javon Baker has been turning heads in the first week of training camp.

His teammate, veteran wide receiver K.J. Osborn, went as far as comparing him to Pittsburgh Steelers’ star receiver George Pickens.

Pickens has been a big part of the Steelers offense so far in his career, tallying 63 catches for 1,140 yards and five touchdowns last year.

Baker has been impressive in his own right with multiple eye-popping catches in one-on-ones and competitive team drills. It’s clear that Osborn sees something special in him.

“I told him he reminds me of George Pickens,” Osborn told reporters, via a team video. “Like bigger like that—really, really, really talented. Raw. You see him jump up and make big plays. He’s a rookie, so learning the offense, the details of it.

“I’m trying to tell him the type of people he’s going to face on Sunday. Especially in this division, we go against some really good corners. So it’s been really exciting to continue to see him continue to come along and make plays, and I think he’ll be a good player.”

Time will tell how Baker’s game ultimately translates to the NFL level.

However, his positive performances in training camp certainly carry some weight. Baker was drafted to bring depth and explosiveness to the Patriots’ offense, and he appears to be doing just that.

WATCH: Christian Gonzalez completely blankets veteran WR in 1-on-1s

Christian Gonzalez was on full lockdown mode

New England Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez has impressed at training camp, and he continued to display his skill set at Tuesday’s practice.

He was able to blanket veteran wide receiver K. J. Osborn in such a dominant one-on-one rep that quarterback Jacoby Brissett didn’t even attempt to throw the ball.

Gonzalez is looking to bounce back after a season-ending injury last October. He suffered a torn labrum, but he appears to be on track to return for the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Tuesday’s play was just a reminder of his incredible potential in the defensive backfield.

Gonzalez’s continued development will be fun to watch throughout training camp. His emergence in the secondary, as well as his health, will be two important factors for a unit that desperately needs depth.

Can fantasy gamers find value among Patriots WRs?

Sifting through the debris to find something of value in fantasy football.

Last year’s New England Patriots were the worst combination in pro sports: bad and boring. They ranked 30th in total offense, 28th in passing and tied for last in scoring. The result was a complete reset. Gone are long-time head coach Bill Belichick, and former first-round quarterback Mac Jones, who was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a late-round pick.

In their place are new head coach Jerod Mayo, who hired Alex Van Pelt as offensive coordinator, and the quarterback tandem of veteran Jacoby Brissett and No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye. Eliot Wolf took over the de facto GM role from Belichick, and he stated there’ll be “more reliance on playing young players” this season. So, what does that mean for passing game?

PFF lists Patriots’ new-look WR room as one of the NFL’s most improved

The Patriots’ receivers room was listed as one of the most improved in the NFL

Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker listed the New England Patriots as one of the teams with the most improved wide receiver rooms, following the 2024 NFL draft.

The Patriots double dipped in the draft at the position in the second and fourth rounds with Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk and UCF’s Javon Baker. They also added a new tight end with seventh-round pick Jaheim Bell.

The free agency acquisitions got some love as well with the team landing veteran wideout K.J. Osborn and tight end Austin Hooper. All of the moves were made in an effort to ultimately build around rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

For what it’s worth, New England does have returning production as well with top wideouts DeMario Douglas and Kendrick Bourne.

Baker has especially captured attention as a potential X receiver, which is a position the Patriots have been looking to improve for years. Locker wrote:

But the Patriots weren’t done there. Wolf scooped up UCF’s Javon Baker at Pick No. 110, a standout in advanced metrics despite not being a household name in the pre-draft process. Baker is a tremendous deep threat, with his average target coming 17.1 yards downfield during the 2023 season — the third-highest mark among FBS receivers with 80-plus targets. The former Knight has already captured fans’ attention because of some supreme self-confidence, too.

Talking about possibilities is one thing, but the Patriots still have to go out there and prove it on the field. With that said, it’s hard not to get excited about what the rookie group brings to the table.

Report: WR K.J. Osborn making impression early for Patriots

Patriots newly-signed WR K.J. Osborn is reportedly making an early impression on the team

New England Patriots wide receiver K.J. Osborn is making an early impression in the offseason program, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

Osborn came over to the Patriots from the Minnesota Vikings in March. He signed a one-year deal with the team, adding to the depth at wide receiver.

Osborn is coming off a season that saw him record 48 catches for 540 yards and three touchdowns. He was a solid third option on a Minnesota team that included the likes of Justin Jefferson and rising rookie Jordan Addison at wide receiver.

The emergence of a veteran in Osborn could be of note, given that the Patriots may have rookie wideouts at the position following the NFL draft. At the very least, Osborn gives them a strong depth option and a playmaker for a potential rookie quarterback to throw to.

It will be interesting to see if he can carry over his strong spring into a productive fall camp. Nevertheless, the fact that he is making a strong impression early is a good start.