4 Patriots Still on Thin Ice Despite Surviving Roster Cuts

The 2024 NFL season has become more real now that Tuesday's 53-man roster deadline has come and gone. First-year head coach Jerod Mayo now knows who he'll be commanding after the New England Patriots finished making their cuts, which included the likes of quarterback Bailey Zappe, running back Kevin Harris, and tight end Mitchell Wilcox.

While Patriots fans finally know who they'll be rooting for this fall, not everybody on the roster is in the clear. Despite surviving this year's roster cuts, certain New England players' future is still up in the air whether it's because they underperformed last year or during training camp.

Here are four Patriots who are still on thin ice following Tuesday's roster cuts.

1. K.J. Osborn, WR

The Patriots made a handful of signings this offseason, including that of wideout K.J. Osborn. The veteran pass-catcher spent the four three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and finished the 2023 campaign with 540 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 48 catches.

When the Patriots signed Osborn back in March, the hope was that he could be one of the team's top wideouts. Having said that, the organization's WR room looks quite different five months later.

Rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker both look poised to have some solid NFL success. Kendrick Bourne is looking to bounce back from last year's season-ending injury while Demario Douglas looks to pick up from where he left off after a strong rookie showcase. Unless he establishes early chemistry with his quarterbacks, Osborn could be at the bottom of that pecking order quickly.

Considering how Osborn only caught two of four preseason targets for 17 receiving yards in three exhibition games, it's clear that the ex-Miami product needs to step up if he wants to stick with the Patriots.