Patriots admit to big mistake by releasing disgruntled wide receiver

The Patriots didn't make as many moves in free agency as fans were hoping for, especially on offense, but they did sign an intriguing wide receiver who had a notable career playing behind one of the best in the league: former Viking K.J. Osborn.

Although he was clearly not the WR1 the team needed, he was a suitable receiver to fill the roster hole left after Kendrick Bourne's injury and was far more productive than anyone they had on the team. Osborn had all the attributes the Patriots needed in a new receiver, which included his veteran experience and being a great teammate.

But it never quite came together, and it became apparent early on that this new partnership wouldn't be what anyone had hoped it would be.

Osborn had made his frustrations well-known throughout the season, taking to social media to express his anger over his lack of usage, and it grew to the point of the Patriots making him a healthy scratch almost every week. That has inevitably led to the Patriots releasing him on Tuesday, and he will now go through waivers ahead of Week 15.

It's not a shocking move, but it does show that the new regime made a big mistake in either signing Osborn in the first place or not incorporating him more into the offense. He had proven he could be a productive player in Minnesota, yet it didn't click in New England for unknown reasons.

We'll never really know whether it was due to Alex Van Pelt's game planning and calling or Osborn's inability to make much of an impact. However, we will see that whatever team picks him up will likely utilize him the way the Vikings did and prove further that the Patriots made a mistake with him.

Regardless, hopefully they'll learn from this and be better with who they sign in free agency next year because it's even more important they get it right in the future with Drake Maye under center.

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