The New England Patriots attempted to solve the franchise's biggest concern by bringing in Stefon Diggs. Helping Drake Maye take a step forward means having more consistent pass catchers capable of getting open.
Diggs is a solid step in this direction, but shouldn't be the final answer. New England must remain actively searching for upgrades, whether this is attempting a blockbuster trade for Terry McLaurin or looking at signing Amari Cooper; more upgrades must be made.
One encouraging report was a great day from second-round pick Ja'Lynn Polk. The receiver struggled mightily in his debut season, but still has plenty of time to turn the corner. There is still a small level of hope that Polk will be able to finally live up to his potential. The obvious counter to this would be the actual game reps and time working with Maye when it mattered.
Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk was 4-0 during 1-on-1s vs Patriots DBs today.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) August 4, 2025
Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk Has Impressive Performance in Camp
One great day at camp isn't enough to wipe away months of concerns. It also must be noted that the Patriots have had injuries to the corner position, likely making Polk's matchup far easier than is typical for the depth receiver.
Polk emerging as a legitimate contributor would be huge for the New England offense and the continued development of Maye. Still, the franchise shouldn't sit back and simply hope for the best when it comes to the position group. Diggs isn't enough to believe all will turn around. If the Patriots want to become a fringe contender and best support their young quarterback, another move at the position must be made.
Looking at the potential trade and free agent markets, there is very little that could be added at this point in the season. One could easily argue for signing Cooper in hopes of unlocking whatever is left in the tank. The obvious counter to this is that Cooper is unlikely to want to sign with a team in a loaded conference in a difficult division. Still, it can't hurt to reach out and attempt to make the move.
For Polk, this is a positive sign, suggesting perhaps the receiver can take a step forward. While fans shouldn't place any real expectations on the second-year player, being cautiously optimistic is more than fair. Polk remains an important piece based simply on the continued lack of established options.