Source: Patriots signing free-agent wide receiver K.J. Osborn

The Patriots are signing free-agent wide receiver K.J. Osborn, a source confirmed to the Herald.

Osborn, 26, was one of the top free agent wide receiver still available. The four-year pro has spent his entire career with the Vikings since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Miami, transferring from the University of Buffalo. He has 158 catches for 1,845 yards with 15 touchdowns over the last three seasons.

It’s a one-year contract, per ESPN.

Osborn joins Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, Kayshon Boutte, Jalen Reagor, Kawaan Baker and T.J. Luther on the Patriots’ wide receiver depth chart. The Patriots re-signed Bourne and Reagor and cut DeVante Parker this offseason.

Osborn’s 48 catches and 540 yards in 2023 would have ranked second on the Patriots last season. He also hauled in three receiving touchdowns.

Osborn, who’s 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, played 556 of his 821 offensive snaps last season out wide and 262 snaps in the slot. He worked more heavily out of the slot in 2021 and 2022 when he was more productive.

He ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash with a 1.58-second 10-yard split, 7.00-second 3-cone drill, 4.35-second short shuttle, 37.5-inch vertical leap and 10-feet, 3-inch broad jump while benching 225 pounds 18 times at the NFL Scouting Combine in 2020.

Osborn ranked eighth-highest with a 12.7% drop rate last season, per PFF. He only dropped two passes in the first three seasons of his career, however.

Osborn helped save a man from a burning car in Austin, Texas, last March.

The Patriots have yet to make a splash move at wide receiver this offseason as Calvin Ridley signed with the Titans and Keenan Allen was traded from the Chargers to the Bears. This is regarded as a strong wide receiver draft, and the Patriots hold the Nos. 3 and 34 overall picks next month.

Ex-Cowboys wide receiver Michael Gallup and ex-Chargers wide receiver Mike Williams, both of whom were cut this week, are among the top pass catchers still available. Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, who was franchised, has reportedly requested a trade.