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.