Patriots

Osborn averaged 52.7 receptions, 615 receiving yards, and five touchdowns per season over the last three years.

The Patriots didn’t necessarily steal many headlines when they signed wideout K.J. Osborn to a one-year contract last month — especially after New England came up short in trying to land Calvin Ridley in free agency. 

But Osborn has a big believer in his former Vikings teammate Kirk Cousins.

The current Falcons signal-caller appeared on the latest episode of “The Big Podcast with Shaq”, where he was asked about which of his former teammates could be due for a breakout season in 2024. 

Cousins had no shortage of top-flight talent to throw to during his six seasons in Minnesota, including Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, and Jordan Addison. But Osborn stands as a player who, in Cousins’ eyes, could thrive in a featured role with the Patriots.

“Pretty much all of them, but K.J. Osborn is a receiver who was with us in Minnesota who was kind of in the shadow of Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen,” Cousins said. “And I always felt like K.J. was better than the opportunities he got. He went to free agency and went to New England, and I’d love to see him have a huge year in New England kind of with a bigger role than what he had in Minnesota to show what he could do.

“That list would go on and on of guys who I feel like because they have someone in front of them, they don’t get to be as good or show as good as they really are. You want those guys to get opportunities.”

Even though he was slotted further down the depth chart behind proven playmakers like Jefferson and Thielen, Osborn averaged 52.7 receptions, 615 receiving yards, and five touchdowns per season over the last three years.

For his career, Osborn has 158 catches for 1,845 yards and 15 touchdowns in 59 regular-season games.

Speaking to reporters in his first media session in New England, Osborn stressed that he’s confident in his ability to step up as a No. 1 receiver with the Patriots. 

“I’m excited to show the type of player I am,” Osborn said. “I’m excited to get some more opportunity and be able to really help this team win. There’s a lot of great players already in the receiver room, so I want to come in and be a help to those guys, another complement.”