Going into the 2024 NFL Draft, there were several positions the Patriots needed to prioritize and target early, the first of which was a quarterback. Because they held the third overall pick, it was clear they would scratch that off the list first. Then came wide receiver, which many hoped they would select early in the second, if not, trade back into the first to get one of the best prospects of the class.
They attempted to get back into the first round to no avail, so they traded back and decided to take Washington's Ja'Lynn Polk instead. Although he wasn't considered a top-5 player at the position, he was highly touted for his athleticism and reliability, two traits the Patriots needed in their receiving corps.
He shined immediately upon joining the team in the summer and looked every bit like the WR1 the team had been clamoring for since Julian Edelman retired in 2021. Polk's momentum shifted slightly in the preseason as fellow rookie Javon Baker began to take the spotlight, but that changed again once the regular season began.
Since then, Polk has fallen off and struggled to make catches that he historically did with ease throughout his college years, making him look like the total opposite of what draft experts claimed were his best attributes coming into the NFL.
That has started the conversation about him potentially being another draft bust by the Patriots, which isn't a great look for the new regime.
Ja'Lynn Polk's continued struggles prompt early "draft bust" label
Spats with the head coach and negative social media posts have dominated the conversation surrounding Polk's rookie season, on top of his continued drops and missed opportunities on the field. It was evident he had chemistry with rookie quarterback Drake Maye early on, but since he became the starter, we have yet to see that flourish.
Chad Graff of The Athletic detailed how his year has gone thus far now that we are halfway through the 2024 season, and looking at the statistics, it's hard to defend Polk against the "draft bust" label.
"And the early returns from Polk? They rank him as the league’s worst wide receiver. Among 128 wide receivers with at least 10 targets, Polk is 128th in Pro Football Focus’ rankings, 128th in yards after the catch per reception, 127th in yards per route run and 126th (out of 126 receivers) at separation when targeted, per Next Gen Stats.
He has 10 catches on 27 targets for 78 yards. Among rookie wide receivers, Polk ranks 19th in receiving yards despite getting the 10th-most targets."
That's certainly not good and not what the Patriots were hoping to get out of their second round receiver.
There is a lot that could be an explanation for why Polk's season has gone the way it has, with the first point being the lack of a competent and consistent offensive line. That has plagued the offense all season and disrupted almost any sort of success in multiple areas, which also impacts the receivers.
There's also the questionable play-calling by Alex Van Pelt, the quarterback change in Week 6, as Polk actually played better with Jacoby Brissett, and even some awkwardness between Polk and Mayo.
Whatever might be hindering him from being the receiver he was in college is hard to say, and it's almost as difficult to determine the best way for the Patriots to help the situation.
"But in the short term, what can the Patriots do with Polk? Do you play him as much as possible, hoping more playing time gets him out of this funk and helps him develop into a better player even if he’s not currently one of your best options at the position? Or do you stick him on the bench, hopeful he’s able to clear his head, learn how to be a pro and improve as the season goes on?"
The best-case scenario is that he's experiencing the growing pains of a rookie wide receiver in the NFL, and things will eventually click. If that day never comes, the Patriots might have to deal with the unfortunate reality of choosing the wrong player and being awarded another "draft bust" label on a promising player.