FOXBOROUGH – If K.J. Osborn was younger, he admits that the headlines might bother him.
This offseason, the Patriots desire to add a top-flight receiver hasn’t been a secret. They were willing to pay Calvin Ridley handsomely before the receiver turned them down for the Tennessee Titans. The team tried to trade back into the first round of April’s draft to land another receiver.
Last week, the Patriots had a trade in place to acquire All-Pro receiver Brandon Aiyuk. However, Aiyuk turned down the Patriots and a contract offer that would’ve reportedly paid him over $30 million per season.
This offseason, there’s a notion that New England is no longer an admirable destination and that their receiver group isn’t good enough.
There are only two things the Patriots can do to prove people wrong. For the receivers, as Osborn explains, it’s about playing better. For the franchise, as Jerod Mayo explains, it’s about winning.
“When I was a younger player, maybe. But now, I don’t care. I really don’t pay attention to it,” Osborn said. “I’ve experienced that as a younger player – outside media letting my emotions being up and down. You’ve got to be solid in who you are. I’m not worried about that. I can only control what I can do on the field, making plays every day and picking up the guys that are here.”
For Mayo, he understands why some veterans might not view Gillette Stadium as a destination but also understands what could easily change that.
“Look, we’re always trying to get better. I think Aiyuk is still in San [Francisco] right now, and he didn’t go to some other teams as well,” Mayo said. “What I will say is, when we start to win games, guys will want to come here. When we start to establish the culture, establish the roster, I think guys will be excited to come back.”
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For the Patriots, there is one thing that could solve both issues – developing their young receivers.
After being rejected by Aiyuk, the Patriots released veteran JuJu Smith-Schuster. Mayo said they made that decision, in part, to give their younger receivers more opportunities.
That move leaves Osborn as one of the most experienced and accomplished receivers on the Patriots roster. The veteran, who signed with the Patriots this offseason, is the only receiver in New England who has three straight seasons of more than 500 receiving yards. The team also returns Kendrick Bourne, who’s currently on the physically unable-to-perform list.
The Patriots are hinging their hopes on developing younger receivers such as DeMario ‘Pop’ Douglas and rookies Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker. Others such as Tyquan Thornton, Jalen Reagor, and Kayshon Boutte have all had nice moments in training camp.
“There’s opportunities for us,” Boutte said on Sunday. “We just have to go out and show that we deserve to be here.”
On paper, the Patriots lack a No. 1 receiver and that’s something Aiyuk would’ve provided. Now, the team moves forward hoping their younger receivers develop and Polk and Baker have had good moments this summer.
On Sunday, in training camp, Douglas was a full participant for the first time and led all pass catches with six receptions. The wideouts also started practice by enjoying success against the Patriots cornerbacks in the 1-on-1 drills. Patriots receivers went 14-4 against their defensive back teammates. They were led by Douglas (two wins), Osborn (two wins), Polk (two wins), and Reagor (two wins).
In his first training camp in New England, Osborn said he’s been impressed with the receiver group.
“Really good. I’m impressed and I’m excited for the season,” Osborn said. “We added some young guys. We already got some guys in the room and a lot of these guys actually don’t have that much experience playing. Maybe like (Bourne), there was JuJu and myself. But these guys are out here making plays. These preseason games are really important. The joint practice will be really important. These guys come to work every day. They work hard. They love the game. It’s been exciting.”
