Patriots newcomer may have just secured a spot on this season's roster

The Patriots entered the 2024 offseason with some of the most cap space available to use in free agency and boost their offense for the presumed rookie quarterback they would add through the draft. The focus, of course, was to acquire a top-name receiver to be the WR1 the team has needed for quite some time, but they missed their chance on Calvin Ridley and others due to extensions from their current teams.

Instead, they chose to add solid depth by signing former Vikings receiver K.J. Osborn, who thrived in Minnesota despite having to play behind Justin Jefferson.

He wasn't the player most were hoping for, especially since rumors flooded NFL media suggesting Jefferson could potentially seek a trade as he awaited his well-deserved contract extension. But Osborn's versatility and locker room presence are invaluable to a team undergoing significant changes like New England, traits that benefit the team on and off the field.

He's received great reviews during his short tenure but hasn't made much of an impression during practice until now.

Although it's still too early to unequivocally say he will make the final roster for the 2024 season, he's proving himself to be near the top of the list as soon as the pads came on in training camp this week.

K.J. Osborn is doing all the right things to make the Patriots 2024 roster

As one of the more under-the-radar players on the Patriots roster this offseason, Osborn has needed to stack some standout practices to ensure he makes the roster for the season ahead.

For the most part, the rookie receivers have dominated during training camp and have the most people talking, but that changed this week with Osborn making back-to-back highlight catches at the first practice of the week, right in time for their opening preseason game on Thursday.

Osborn's breakout couldn't have happened at a better time and if he can keep up this type of production throughout the next few weeks, there's no reason to believe he won't make the roster for this season.

There's a big opportunity for him to make that happen sooner rather than later, with Kendrick Bourne's immediate future unclear as he continues to rehab from an ACL injury that prematurely ended his 2023 season.

If Osborn can continue to show he's a solid weapon for Jacoby Brissett, Drake Maye, and/or Joe Milton, then it will be easy for Jerod Mayo to keep him around.

More Patriots news and analysis: