An Old Friend Wants to Play WR3 for the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are never scared about re-signing old friends from the past — Adam Thielen, Anthony Barr, Everson Griffen, and others can attest over the years — so when wide receiver K.J. Osborn said last week that the vacant WR3 job intrigued him, folks perked up.
Minnesota still has not fully solved its WR3 question.
The Vikings let the WR3 from the last couple of seasons, Jalen Nailor, depart in free agency, leaving the job up for grabs. Osborn is interested.
Osborn Mentions Himself as Vikings WR Depth
He spent his rookie contract in Minnesota.
The Vikings Intrigue Osborn
Osborn hasn’t found any staying power in the NFL as of late, and he may want a return trip to the Twin Cities.
Speaking on the Caps Off podcast last week, Osborn told the show’s host, “You can’t help but look at Minnesota. With Kyler Murray going back. Jalen Nailor, I’m so happy for him. Speedy, congrats bro, my guy, he just got 3 years for $35 million from the Raiders. So that spot WR3 is back open. Just looking around. But home is where the heart is. So, we’ll see.”
That’s his outward campaign for a Vikings contract. Book it.
No Success Post-Vikings
After the Vikings declined to offer Osborn a new contract following the 2023 season, he joined the New England Patriots, a team in desperate need of wide receiver talent. He failed, however, to make a significant impact, recording only seven receptions for 57 yards.
His subsequent opportunities offered no improvement. A stint with Washington proved fruitless, and he was released during final roster cuts in the summer of 2025. Atlanta then signed him to their practice squad, where he remained for the season.
Osborn saw no regular-season action last year. Now, he’s back, hoping to regain his footing in the league.
Without the Vikings, he’s caught 7 passes in two years for 57 yards altogether.
With the Vikings, However …
Osborn spent his entire rookie contract in Minnesota, though his career began slowly. He saw little offensive action during the 2020 pandemic season, but that changed quickly in 2021. After an impressive training camp, he maintained his momentum and secured a consistent role as the team’s WR3 through March 2024.
This role proved significant. After struggling to find a reliable third receiver with players like Bisi Johnson and Chad Beebe, Minnesota found consistency with Osborn. In 2023, he recorded 48 receptions for 540 yards and three touchdowns, a stat line typical of his contributions to the offense. All told, Osborn posted 158 receptions, 1,845 receiving yards, and 15 touchdowns in Minnesota from 2020 to 2023.
The verdict is pretty simple: in Minnesota, Osborn performed as a mid-to-low-end tier WR3, especially with Kirk Cousins under center. Everywhere else, he can’t keep a roster spot.
Probably Need a Better WR3 Option
While Osborn might be fun for nostalgia in Minnesota, the Vikings need to shoot for the stars at WR3, and Osborn does nothing of the sort.
The Vikings drafted rookie wideout Tai Felton last April. He deserves a fair shake at WR3 before contemplating Osborn for the job. Why draft Felton in Round 3 if the goal was to sign someone like Osborn, who has 7 catches in two years?
Otherwise, these current free-agent WR options are on the table for the Vikings:
- Keenan Allen
- Brandon Aiyuk (eventually)
- Stefon Diggs
- Tyreek Hill
- DeAndre Hopkins
- Jauan Jennings
- Curtis Samuel
- Deebo Samuel
Or — instead of Osborn, if the Vikings don’t want Felton or a free agent at WR3, the draft will offer these options before the end of Round 3:
- Makai Lemon (USC)
- Jordyn Tyson (Arizona State)
- Omar Cooper Jr. (Indiana)
- Denzel Boston (Washington)
- Kevin Concepcion (Texas A&M)
- Chris Brazzell (Tennessee)
- Chris Bell (Louisville)
- Germie Bernard (Alabama)
- Antonio Williams (Clemson)
- Malachi Fields (Notre Dame)
- Zachariah Branch (Georgia)
- Elijah Sarratt (Indiana)
- Skyler Bell (UConn)
- Ted Hurst (Georgia State)
- Bryce Lance (North Dakota State)
- Deion Burks (Oklahoma)
- Ja’Kobi Lane (USC)
If Osborn couldn’t cut it as a meaningful contributor with the Patriots, Commanders, and Falcons, there’s no reason to believe he’d surge in the Twin Cities with a WR3 reunion. He may be a practice squader from here on out.
Not everyone dislikes the idea, though. The Viking Age‘s Adam Carlson wrote last week, “Since the team brought in Kyler Murray to be the quarterback in 2026, bringing up the floor of the receiver room would be smart, especially since they wouldn’t have to force Tai Felton into a bigger role than he is prepared for.”
“Depending on the contract size, the Minnesota Vikings should consider looking into acquiring K.J. Osborn as a free agent this offseason.”
He’ll turn 29 in June.
You must be logged in to post a comment.