The New England Patriots are getting ready for training camp, but the build-up to the season is more important for some than it is for others. The receiver room is a glaring example where the addition of Stefon Diggs and incoming draft pick Kyle Williams highlight a group with 12 players on the roster.
Obviously, somebody needs to go before the regular season begins, and it could leave some recent names on the chopping block. One was a former 2024 draft pick that could be in trouble and need a miracle to make the roster after a lackluster performance during OTAs.
Ja’Lynn Polk is a Longshot to Make Patriots Roster After OTA’s
The Patriots took a swing on upside when they selected Ja’Lynn Polk in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. A three-year starter at Washington, Polk had his best year in 2023, catching 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns. The campaign parlayed into becoming a second-round draft pick but he fell short of expectations in his rookie year.
Polk struggled out of the gate and never recovered, catching 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season. It wasn’t a matter of opportunity either, as Demario Douglas was the only receiver to surpass 600 yards. Now with an offseason to prepare, Polk still hasn’t found a way to stand out and was listed on the chopping block by the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed.
“Polk has every opportunity to make us look stupid this summer in training camp,” Kyed admitted. “The 2024 second-round pick was a fantastic college player, but he flashed very little as a rookie last season, and head coach Mike Vrabel and [offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels] have no past history with him.”
If the Patriots’ new brain trust were confident in Polk, they wouldn’t have brought in Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency. The selection of Williams further showed their lack of faith in Polk, and it also spelled bad things for fellow 2024 draft pick Javon Baker.
It might only take one strong training camp to change the narrative. But Polk hasn’t shown anything to hint that it could happen. With that in mind, it’s more likely he gets cut sometime during camp and could be looking for a new job as the 2025 season approaches.