K.J. Osborn could be a playoff puzzle piece for needy contenders

This year is over for the New England Patriots. Officially, they've already been eliminated from the postseason with a month of the regular season still to go, and the team has been planning for its long-term future for far longer than even this.

With that in mind, it makes sense why the Pats are conducting themselves the way they are, leaning into younger players—even with struggles—while jettisoning vets from the roster. This week, they set wide receiver K.J. Osborn free after signing the former Vikings to a one-year deal in free agency. Now the NFL's waiver order is waiting to see where Osborn will play next.

It's possible Osborn goes unclaimed and then he will be a free agent, but his usefulness should extend to some team hungry for healthy targets this late in the season. While the Patriots should be. more interested in the likes of inexperienced players like Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, other contenders should be happy to add a player like Osborn at this juncture.

As for the Chiefs, the idea of any interest would make a lot more sense if the likes of Hollywood Brown weren't already on the verge of returning. However, Osborn's primary role as a versatile flanker puts him in the same general conversation. Perhaps Mecole Hardman's absence provides more room on the roster than expected? Perhaps Osborn would be worth moving some other pieces around?

In order to get a better read on whether or not a team like the Chiefs should be interested in a waiver pickup like Osborn, we reached out to our pal Sara Marshall from Musket Fire to tell us about why the Pats let him go and what's left in the tank for Osborn this year.

Why are the Patriots just letting a guy like Osborn walk at this point in the season?

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if it was a conversation they had with Osborn. I think he was brought in to help ease the absence of Kendrick Bourne at the beginning of the year but things didn't go as planned with Jacoby Brissett. Then once Maye took over and Bourne returned, Osborn got pushed down the depth chart.

Then his social media activity likely led to him being a healthy scratch and although some teams inquired about trading for him before the deadline, nothing came of it whether that was due to the Patriots wanting to keep him or the offers they got weren't good enough, I'm not sure.

I assumed they knew they weren't going to do anything with him and so it was better to just let him go now rather than hang onto him until the end of the year.

Can you explain the social media thing?

There was some drama during the week of their London game against the Jags and he was apparently told he was going to be a healthy scratch on Wednesday. Then the night before the game, he allegedly was told he would actually be active. He then posted a screenshot of a text to his social media.

it just added more drama. People thought it was his agent, but I guess it was just a friend.

What is on the table here for any team interested in signing Osborn? What would he bring to a WR room?

I think Osborn can still be the guy we saw him be in Minnesota playing behind Justin Jefferson. He's well-rested, a good teammate, and has proven he can be productive. So it makes sense in my eyes for teams in the playoff picture to claim him if they need help with their receiving corps.

Osborn wanted to play more in New England but just didn't get the chance and I'm sure part of it is because he got more opportunities before Maye was the QB. Then once he was on the field with Maye they just didn't have that chemistry because they didn't get to practice together and whatnot. I think he'd be fine with a more seasoned QB and a better one than Brissett.