After the Patriots selected Drake Maye with the third pick in the draft last offseason, they opted to choose a playmaker to aid his development. There's no doubt the idea was sensible: we've seen plenty of young stars blossom together over the past few years in the NFL.
After year one, though, that playmaker-to-be ended up being anything but. Ja'Lynn Polk finished the year with 12 catches for a measly 87 yards.
Polk was a productive college player in his final season at Washington, finishing with 69 catches for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns. The Huskies lost to Michigan in the National Championship, but Polk was productive in the Sugar Bowl, the game before, where he recorded five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown against No. 3-ranked Texas.
The Patriots thought he could parlay his strong 2023 season into a successful rookie year, but it was anything but that. Now, the former Husky sits deep on the depth chart, seventh according to ESPN. Now, PFF's Bradley Locker suggests Polk could be traded this offseason, listing him as one of fifteen training camp trade candidates.
What is Ja'Lynn Polk's value if the Patriots were to trade him?
Put, very little. While interest in Polk, based on his collegiate career, is understandable, his NFL play hasn't turned heads. Like most players sitting at WR7, he wouldn't garner more than a sixth or seventh round pick. Alternatively, a swap deal for another disappointing player could be in the cards. Polk could also be used as a bargaining chip, a small piece in a larger trade for a star should the opportunity arise.
One interesting swap could be an intra-division trade with the Jets. They had their own Polk last year in Malachi Corley. The 65th pick in last year's draft had three catches for 16 yards last year, a dismal season. While Polk was better, neither will be in the league for much longer if they continue this level of play.
In his final two seasons at Western Kentucky, Corley had nearly 2,300 yards and 22 touchdowns from 180 catches. Like Polk, potential is there, and maybe a change of scenery can bring that out of him.
Including Polk in a blockbuster trade could get the Patriots a big-time star
Locker mentions three big names as the first three candidates in his article: Trey Hendrickson, Terry McLaurin, and Micah Parsons. I'm still hesitant to believe the latter two are truly available, but Hendrickson could very well be dealt, especially with the Shemar Stewart saga over in Cincinnati.
A cache of draft picks and Polk could be a competitive package for Hendrickson: the Patriots could avoid dealing an additional late-round pick and instead both cut their losses and remove a competitor from a deep group of wideouts.
At this point, 2024's 37th pick has very little value. If a team comes calling about him, it's worth allowing him a change of scenery. Vrabel and his staff have no ties to him, and he showed precious little in a less talented receiver room last year.
At this point, the best course of action for the Patriots appears to be moving on.