The New England Patriots stuffed a necessity at huge receiver by agreeing to a one-year contract with Ok.J. Osborn, a supply advised ESPN on Sunday.
The settlement is for $4 million and might be price as much as $6 million, a supply advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The Patriots had made an aggressive free agent pitch to receiver Calvin Ridley earlier than he determined to signal with the Tennessee Titans. Even after including Osborn, the expectation is that New England nonetheless hopes to improve at receiver, maybe trying to the draft. NFL scouts view the place as one of many deepest and most proficient this 12 months, and the Patriots personal the No. 3 decide, along with picks close to the highest of the second (No. 34), third (No. 68) and fourth (No. 103) rounds.
Osborn joins a depth chart that’s topped by veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kendrick Bourne and Jalen Reagor, in addition to promising slot receiver Demario “Pop” Douglas (2022 sixth-round decide).
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The Vikings drafted Osborn simply 4 rounds after deciding on Justin Jefferson in 2020, and he didn’t start seeing common enjoying time on offense till halfway via the 2021 season. Osborn first broke via as a goal within the Vikings’ two-minute drills that season, and his manufacturing there prompted quarterback Kirk Cousins to counsel a full-time position within the scheme.
Osborn spent the subsequent 1½ seasons because the Vikings’ No. 3 receiver, behind Jefferson and Adam Thielen, catching 110 passes for 1,255 yards and 12 touchdowns over that span.
Thielen’s departure after the 2022 season opened the door for Osborn as a possible starter subsequent to Jefferson, however the Vikings have been concurrently pondering of a longer-term resolution. They drafted Jordan Addison with the No. 23 total decide in 2023, giving them an opportunity to pair Jefferson with a extra explosive (and cheaper) receiver.
Osborn, 26, began a career-high 12 video games final season however had 33 fewer targets than Addison. In all, Osborn completed 2023 together with his lowest season totals in catches (48), yards (540) and touchdowns (3) since his rookie marketing campaign.
The information of Osborn’s settlement was first reported by NFL Community.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss and Kevin Seifert contributed to this report.
