The Patriots are facing a roster crunch at wide receiver, and there’s a chance they may move on from a recent second-round pick as they resolve their depth. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss writes, Ja’Lynn Polk is among the players competing for a final spot in the receivers room.
Reiss believes that each of the team’s offseason acquisitions, a grouping that includes Stefon Diggs, Mack Hollins, and rookie third-round pick Kyle Williams, are “viewed as safe,” and the writer also includes holdover DeMario Douglas in that grouping. Assuming the team will only hold six WRs, that leaves two more spots for at least four players.
In addition to Polk, the players fighting for a roster spot include Kendrick Bourne, Kayshon Boutte, and 2024 fourth-round pick Javon Baker. Bourne brings the track record, and Boutte flashed some potential as a sophomore, but Polk’s recent draft pedigree may make him the most surprising inclusion on this list.
A former Washington standout, Polk was the 37th-overall pick in last year’s draft. Thanks in part to inconsistent QB play and an ever-evolving receivers room, the rookie struggled to carve out a role in 2024. Polk finished the campaign with 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns, and he ranked seventh on the team in total targets.
The Patriots are expecting another leap from Drake Maye in 2025, and it would make some sense to pair the young signal-caller with a young, high-upside receiver. However, with additional depth and a new coaching staff in place, Polk might not have that opportunity in New England.
Sticking with Patriots receivers, Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston revealed that Diggs still hasn’t taken a physical with the organization as he continues to rehab his torn ACL (via The Rich Eisen Show on YouTube). As a result, the wide receiver also hasn’t received his signing bonus, which is dependent on the player passing the physical.
I thought Polk was a *little* bit of a reach where he was picked, but I was very surprised to see him look so bad as a rookie. If the Patriots are already ready to move on, maybe he could be reunited with Penix in Atlanta.
Zero chance Polk gets cut. He is suited for McDaniels offense well and last years staff horribly misused him.
Certainly, he has to step up to make the team. But, he’s one of the more talented guys on the roster and the team cant afford to just cut him for nothing. It’s possible they trade him, but I’d bet money he makes the roster. The end of the roster isn’t that great. Baker isn’t making it over him. Boutte had a decent year last year but nothing special, and he’s not a great fit in this offense. With the addition of Diggs and Hollins, Bourne’s experience is no longer a plus. They could even trade Douglas if need be. He could be a playmaker but he’s a man beating, small slot. Not a zone breaker and high volume slot that the McDaniels offense has been built on.
There will be a lot of activity at the back end of the Patriot WR group. But Im pretty confident Polk will be a part of the group. My guess is Bourne and Boutte are traded towards the end of camp for 6 or 7’s as other teams have holes. Baker is cut. Diggs, Williams, Hollins, Douglas, Polk, and Chism make the team.
I love how the person who wrote this can’t just admit that Polk is overrated and thinks he’s way better than he is right now.
No, it has to be blamed on the QB play instead.
Well, it’s never that simple. Absolutely, Polk needed to play better. Point blank.
But there are many factors at play here. Yes, QB play was inconsistent. But thats more to the poor OL. If Wr don’t have time to run their full route, it’s hard to get open. It’s hard to give the QB a window. It’s hard for the QB to throw a strike when rushed or scrambling. But the Patriots also had a 1st time WR coach. He was a college analyst. They had a 1st time play caller. One that never used play action or called direct runs with Maye to balance the offense. With the lack of talent at WR, Polk was forced to play the X receiver role for half the year. Hes a Jakobi Meyers type. Hes an inside/outside guy, not a straight beat man coverage deep kind of guy. Matt Harmon talked about this multiple times on his podcast. Hes ot a separator downfield and using him there is terribly misusing him.
Then there’s the Polk side of it. His confidence took a hit with all that. He had a couple near massive plays where he just didnt quite get his foot down. Directly impacted two games. He was known for his prowess as a blocker, but he even struggled there. Thats one of those things where you can tell a guy is just not comfortable out there. He absolutely has to step up and find a way to fight through adversity around him. That’s part of being a pro. But everyone acknowledged just how bad the Patriota were behind the scenes, as well as on the field. No direction. No disciplined system. It was a bunch of random coaches finding their way, leading a bunch of young or not so talented guys. The season was a disaster all around.
You get the benefit of the doubt for the short term as a 2nd round pick. Hell be around. But he has to step up for sure, no matter what’s happening around him.
Or he was dominating weak competition in college and is finally facing tough competition in the pros.
Except that wouldn’t be the case. Even if you wanted to discount the likes of USC and Cal during the regular season, who have had 6 db’s taken in the past 2 drafts, he finished his last season going up against Oregon, Texas, and Michigan, with a lot more guys taken. The talent he went up against was top notch.
You absolutely correct, mr important.
For a minute I was thinking ‘How can a team miss on a high draft pick so badly that he’s in danger of being cut before his second season.” Then as an Eagles fan, I quickly remember Jalen Reagor, and go, “Oh yeah”
One of many.
How about JJAW?
I will never understand the Mack Hollins signing. Why?