3 recently added Patriots who are already cut candidates
How a player performs during a team's organized team activities (OTAs) or minicamp doesn't necessarily reflect how well they will play once the season begins.
It is, however, an early sign of what they might look like the rest of the offseason/preseason, providing a glimpse into what might come the rest of the summer.
It's a lot for newer players to live up to, like the several who signed with the Patriots in free agency earlier this year. Many were brought in to be upgrades at their position, or solid depth pieces to weaker units on the team, which might make it easier to inevitably make the roster.
However, there are already a few recently added players who are looking like potential cut candidates at training camp next month.
3 recently added Patriots who are already cut candidates
WR K.J. Osborn
The Patriots are in a unique situation this offseason with a loaded wide receiver room, which will require many hard decisions before the regular season begins. Although they didn't acquire the top-name player most fans were hoping for, they still have 12 receivers signed to the roster, many of whom are upgrades from a year ago.
Free agency was a bit scarce, especially after they lost their pursuit of Calvin Ridley to the Tennessee Titans, which brought them to former Viking K.J. Osborn. He wasn't the desired receiver from the NFC North team, but he was still a solid signing.
Since being drafted in 2020, Osborn has shown he could be a playmaker in the NFL. The problem, however, is that the Vikings took Justin Jefferson the same year, and he has since become one of the best players in the league.
Although he had to take a backseat to Jefferson, Osborn performed at a high level, which made him an intriguing signing for the Patriots. His versatility on special teams makes him stand out above his teammates, but his lack of highlights in spring practices makes him an easy cut candidate this summer.
He will have to demonstrate all he can do on the practice field during training camp and preseason, competing against nearly every other pass catcher on the team. The receiver room is nearly wide open, with only Kendrick Bourne and DeMario Douglas as the likely roster locks.
We know what kind of player Osborn can be, but we need to sit it in a Patriots uniform to believe he's a good fit. Otherwise, he might play for another team in 2024.