4 Patriots Unlikely to Return in 2025 After Poor Start to Season

2. K.J. Osborn

K.J. Osborn was brought in by the Patriots as a free agent this offseason to help bolster a New England receiving corps that heavily underperformed in 2023. Osborn, a former fifth-round pick, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. The Patriots and Osborn agreed on a one-year, $4 million contract in March.

Through four games in 2024, the position group hasn't brought much more to the table. Osborn himself has only five catches on 13 targets for 31 yards. He has been on the field for 69 percent of the team's offensive snaps.

Admittedly, it has been hard for anyone in this receiver group to stand out in 2024, as New England's passing game has struggled with Jacoby Brissett under center behind a makeshift and permeable offensive line. The Patriots have the fewest passing yards (558) and third-lowest completion percentage (59.6%) in the NFL through four weeks.

Osborn is a free agent following this season and will likely prefer to move forward with younger receivers such as DeMario Douglas, Ja'Lynn Polk, Javon Baker, etc. Veteran Kendrick Bourne is also signed for 2025 and 2026. New England's decision to give Osborn only a one-year deal doesn't suggest that he is in their long-term plans. 2024 was an opportunity for Osborn in a "prove it" year, and the 27-year-old has done little to prove it thus far.