3 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by the End of October

Expectations were low for the New England Patriots this season and their poor start to the year has justified those sentiments. The Patriots dropped to 1-4 on the campaign with a 15-10 loss to the injury-riddled Miami Dolphins in Week 5, leaving several players' futures with the organization up in the air.

While it might be too late for the Patriots to turn things around, it's the perfect time to start trimming the fat. It's clear that several New England players aren't doing their part in turning the team around, meaning management could opt to part ways with certain individuals before the 2024 NFL season is even over.

With that in mind, here are three Patriots who could be cut by the end of October.

1. K.J. Osborn, WR

It's always a good idea to surround a rookie quarterback — like Drake Maye — with experienced pass-catchers. That's why the Patriots signed veteran wide receiver K.J. Osborn to a one-year contract this offseason.

It seemed like a good idea at the time. After all, Osborn had been a reliable pass-catcher as he averaged 615 receiving yards and five touchdowns across his final three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings.

Unfortunately, Osborn hasn't had the same impact with the Patriots. The ex-2020 fifth-rounder has struggled to make his presence felt, catching only five of 13 targets (38.5%) for 31 receiving yards without a touchdown in four games. He was held out of Week 5 with a shoulder injury, however, it's clear that his presence wasn't missed based on his aforementioned stats.

Even when he returns, it's hard to justify Osborn's spot in the lineup. He can hardly catch the ball and when he does, he barely makes an impact with the opportunity. It makes more sense to give his roster spot to someone else who's actually hungry to contribute.

If the Patriots opt to release Osborn this month, they'll save $1.96 million in cap space, per Spotrac.