Patriots select WR Ja’Lynn Polk 37th overall in 2024 NFL Draft
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Ja'Lynn Polk #2 of the Washington Huskies catches a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns during the CFP Semifinal Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 01, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
After drafting quarterback Drake Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Patriots got back on the clock on Day 2 and got him somebody to throw the ball to. After trading down from 34th to 37th overall, the Patriots drafted wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk from Washington.
Polk, 22, was a starter for the last two years at the University of Washington. Last year in 15 games he caught 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns.
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At 6-foot-1, 203 pounds Polk is a ‘go and get it’ wide receiver with strong hands who plays with toughness and isn’t afraid to go over the middle. His solid route-running ability is aided by his ability to read coverages and adjust to find open space. At the Combine Polk ran a 4.53-second 40 with a 37.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-9-inch broad jump.
In New England Polk is expected to play the ‘X’ position which the Patriots need filled after releasing DeVante Parker. He joins a receiver room with DeMario Douglas, Kendrick Bourne, K.J. Osborn, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton.
Polk already has at least one familiar face in the Patriots’ wide receiver room. New Patriots receivers coach Tyler Hughes was on the Washington offensive coaching staff last year as a general assistant.
To make the deal to move back before selecting Polk, the Patriots sent the 34th and 137th overall picks to the Chargers. In return, they got the 37th and 110th overall selections.
The Patriots are scheduled to be back on the clock with the 68th overall pick, which is early in the third round. Stay up to date with the draft with our NFL Draft Tracker below…
Drafting Drake Maye isn't the end of a process for the Patriots, it's the beginning
The New England Patriots finally have their new quarterback. On Thursday night, the team drafted North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye third overall, making him the organization’s latest attempt at finding their next franchise quarterback.
For many fans, this pick probably feels like the end of a long, arduous process. That began with watching these quarterbacks play back in October after the Patriots themselves got off to a 1-5, and then 2-8 start before the bye, and continued throughout the pre-draft process during the spring.
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In a sense, yes this is the end of an expansive process. But it’s also the beginning of one. Choosing the right quarterback is only half the battle – now the team has to develop him.
So often leading up to the draft, prospects (especially quarterbacks) are talked about in a bubble. Will a player be ‘good’ or ‘bad’ in the NFL is a common question, when in reality, it’s much more complicated than that.
Drafting the right player is only half the battle, the team also has to put that player in a position to succeed. There have been good prospects who went to bad situations and saw their potential impact lessened or their careers outright derailed. There are even some examples of lesser prospects who were elevated by good surroundings.
Thursday night, the Patriots took care of the first half of the battle. Maye is a high-ceiling player with a big arm, great size, toughness, and mobility at the quarterback position. He has plenty of tools that simply aren’t coachable. But now, it’s up to the Patriots’ organization to continue on the process and fill in the rest. This pick is a vote of confidence in the re-built offensive coaching staff and front office, and now it’s the staff’s turn to deliver.
What does that look like? There are multiple angles at play here. What we can do is use the Patriots’ failed development of Mac Jones – who they selected in the first round in 2021 – as a guide. What do the Patriots need to do differently this time around? We’ll narrow in on some key areas.
Before we start though let me be clear about something. Some parts of this may come off as a defense of Jones. It isn’t. He isn’t without blame for the Patriots’ past three years, and Maye comes into the NFL with substantially more physical tools than he did. But the Patriots had their missteps in his development as well, and that’s what we’ll be looking at here.
Alex Barth is a digital content producer and on-air host for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Barth grew up in the Boston area and began covering both the New England Patriots, Boston Celtics, and Boston Red Sox in 2017 before joining the Hub in 2020. He now covers all things Boston Sports for 985TheSportsHub.com as well as appearing on air. Alex writes about all New England sports, as well as college football. You can follow him across all social media platforms at @RealAlexBarth.