Patriots Cut One WR, Sign Another Ahead of Minicamp

The New England Patriots have made a concerted effort to add talent this offseason to their wide receiver room after a disastrous showing by the group last season.

The Patriots signed veteran K.J. Osborn to a one-year deal, gave Kendrick Bourne a three-year extension, and used a couple of picks in the 2024 NFL Draft on Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. 

When you add those new players into the mix, with the receivers from last year’s team, there should be a lot of competition for playing time. However, despite having multiple receivers on the 90-man roster, the Patriots are still adding to the position group ahead of minicamp.

ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported on Thursday that the Pats signed wide receiver JaQuae Jackson and released wide receiver T.J. Luther. Jackson is an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers and spent some time earlier this offseason with the Atlanta Falcons.

The 6-foot-1 wide receiver had 22 receptions for 361 yards and one touchdown in his one year at Rutgers. Before Jackson joined the Scarlet Knights, he started his career at California U (PA) at the D2 level.

At Cal U (PA), Jackson was an outstanding receiver, making the 2022 All-PSAC West First Team, and was named 2022 Division II All-America Honorable Mention. In his senior year at Cal, he produced 77 receptions for 1,178 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Jackson has a long journey ahead of him to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster as they signed a small-school wide receiver earlier this week. That said, if the former Rutgers wideout can show out during minicamp and carry that momentum into training camp, he could land a spot on the Pats’ practice squad.

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