NFL Rumors: Patriots Could Make Surprising Decision On Wideout

The Patriots’ wide receiver group figures to look different by the time New England takes the field in Chicago for its Week 10 matchup.

The NFL trade deadline is set for Tuesday, and wideout very well could be a position of focus for Eliot Wolf and company over the next few days. The Patriots currently have too many receivers on their depth chart and a good chunk of them make sense as potential trade candidates.

K.J. Osborn, a fourth-year pass-catch who might be of interest to a contender, certainly fits that mold. But even if New England can’t find a trade for Osborn, it still might cut ties with him.

“One of the top questions is whether five-year veteran K.J. Osborn, who might have trouble breaking through on the game-day roster as the team prioritizes youth, might yield a conditional late-round draft pick in a deal before Tuesday’s trade deadline,” ESPN’s Mike Reiss wrote in a column published Sunday.

“If not, and the health outlook at the position doesn’t change in Sunday’s game, the team might consider helping Osborn — who has been described as a true pro by some in the organization — by simply releasing him.”

Osborn, who signed a one-year deal in New England over the offseason, probably would welcome a change of scenery. He doesn’t seem very happy about his role with the Patriots, who should be prioritizing their younger and inexperienced players in a lost season.

A few playoff-hopeful teams need receiver help, though, so New England might be able to swing a deal for Osborn as opposed to losing him for nothing.