For most people, it's a good time to be associated with the New England Patriots. The Mike Vrabel era hasn't even really started yet, and there's already a renewed, exciting vibe coming out of Foxboro for the first time in more than a couple years. Who knows how good they'll end up being in Year 1, but expectations are generally reaching beyond 'maybe winning three games,' so things are looking up.
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However, there are a few players that probably don't feel quite as stoked about the coaching overhaul that happened this year – at least as it pertains to their job security. One of those is almost certainly Ja'Lynn Polk, a Jerod Mayo pick who's spot on the roster is already coming into question. It probably shouldn't be all that surprising that Polk showed up on a new NFL.com list of players who are in 'make-or-break' seasons, because, yeah, it kinda already feels like that. The NFL's a tough business.
Ja'Lynn Polk's longterm place on the Patriots roster doesn't feel all that safe anymore
"First, let me note that while he's accomplished plenty in his career, Patriots WR Stefon Diggs' 2025 season is also a make-or-break campaign because New England can essentially move on from him after a year with little financial penalty. Now that we've handled that, let's turn our attention to one of the most underwhelming receivers from the 2024 draft class. While Brian Thomas Jr. and Malik Nabers were torching defenses elsewhere, Polk resided in the shadows as a rookie, catching just 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns in an offense that was desperate for a pass catcher to separate from the pack. Polk needs to take a big step forward in 2025 to prevent the Patriots from finding a replacement for him, because while they're not on a title-chasing timeline right now, they need reliable producers for QB Drake Maye."
Finding yourself, even hypothetically, on a roster fringe after only one season is tough, but that's life when your entire season statline would be a good *one* game performance for a lot of guys. It doesn't help that seemingly every other wide receiver from Polk's class was immediately a star. Maybe Vrabel figures out how to best get him going, and some of Diggs' focus opens up some more 1-on-1's, but there's no avoiding the fact that Polk's in a bad spot. If we're all trying our best to practice some patience (which I assume was everyone's New Year's Resolution that we're all definitely still being vigilant about), Polk's a good place to start.