Patriots trading WR Ja'Lynn Polk to Saints in pick swap: Report

Patriots trading WR Ja'Lynn Polk to Saints in pick swap: Report

Ja’Lynn Polk won’t make it past a second season with the New England Patriots.

The Patriots are trading the 23-year-old wide receiver to the New Orleans Saints, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported Saturday. Here are the terms of the deal, per Russini:

Saints receive: WR Ja’Lynn Polk, Patriots’ 2028 seventh-round pick
Patriots receive: Saints’ 2027 sixth-round pick

Polk currently is on season-ending injured reserve due to a shoulder injury, which makes the timing of this trade surprising. The 2024 second-round pick was viewed as a potential cut candidate in the Patriots’ crowded wide receiver room but was placed on IR before cut-down day in late August.

Polk came to New England with plenty of promise as the No. 37 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft out of Washington. He had a disastrous rookie year, however, recording just 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games played. Polk struggled with drops and was criticized after boasting that he believed he had “the best hands in the league.”

The 6-foot-1, 203-pound wideout showed signs of progress in training camp, but faced more competition for a roster spot after the offseason additions of Stefon Diggs (free agency), Mack Hollins (free agency), Kyle Williams (draft) and Efton Chism III (undrafted free agent).

“I don’t even think about last year,” Polk told reporters in late July. “We’ve got a new team, the energy is great around here, so I’m here now. I’m stepping forward, keeping faith in the Lord Jesus. He’s been with me the whole entire way. I’m going to keep my faith strong and keep working.”

After Polk’s season-ending injury, it appeared he’d at least remain with the franchise until 2026. But it appears New England is moving forward with its current receiver room, while Polk gets a fresh start in New Orleans.

Following the Polk trade, just two members of the Patriots’ eight-player 2024 draft class (quarterback Drake Maye and offensive lineman Caedan Wallace) are on the active roster, with a third (cornerback Marcellas Dial) on injured reserve.