Patriots receiver responds to rumored trade request

With the NFL trade deadline now less than two weeks away, the rumor mill is starting to heat up. At 1-6, the New England Patriots are lining up to be sellers if they end up making any moves.

If the team does trade players away, wide receiver is a logical position to watch. Pop Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, and Kayshon Boutte have established themselves at the top of the depth chart with rookies Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the mix as well.

That leaves two players on the outside looking in at the top five spots on the depth chart. One is 2022 second-round pick Tyquan Thornton, who the team has reportedly already made available. The other is free agent signing K.J. Osborn, who may be looking for a trade himself.

After last Sunday's game Osborn shared a message on social media, indicating the original plan was for him to be benched for the game. In the text exchange, the other person brought up "figure[ing] out this situation," which some interpreted as Osborn's frustration in falling down the Patriots' depth chart.

(This was coupled with Osborn's "call me" touchdown celebration, which he later said was meant to mean "Call God.")

Following that, during Osborn's media availability on Wednesday, he was asked if he wants to be traded. "It's like an alley oop," he told Chris Mason of MassLive. "This is where I am. This is the place I signed to be. A lot of things are out of my control, but I would like to be where my feet are. So today I'm here, so now I'll rock with it as it goes."

If the Patriots do end up trading Osborn, the return likely would be a later Day 3 pick. With multiple big-name receivers getting moved leading up to the deadline, it's a buyers market right now. Earlier in the day on Wednesday, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired DeAndre Hopkins for a conditional fifth-round pick.

The Patriots signed Osborn to a one-year, $4 million contract back in the spring. He's played in five of their seven games this year, missing one with a shoulder injury. In those five games he's caught five passes for 57 yards, with his lone touchdown coming last week.