Patriots shockingly trade former Washington wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk to Saints

In an unexpected move, the New England Patriots traded away their second-year wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk to the New Orleans Saints - in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. The Patriots also included their own 2028 seventh-round pick in the deal.

Polk had been on New England's injury reserve with a shoulder injury and was slated to miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing surgery. Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel noted this was a reason for the trade, wishing to give the 2024 second-round draft choice a fresh start.

From a Ja'Lynn Polk believer's perspective, this move is puzzling. On one hand, it's not a good look that the Patriots are giving up on a player they used a high draft pick on so early into his career, especially considering they traded back - effectively giving up Ladd McConkey in preference to him:

On the other hand, it is super exciting that Polk will be getting a change of scenery. The Patriots have had a crowded wide receiver room from the moment Polk was drafted, and with so many mouths to feed, he never had the opportunity separate himself from the pack.

New Orleans could give Polk his opportunity to shine. The Saints current starters at receivers are questionable: Chris Olave has concerns about concussions, Brandin Cooks is getting older, and Rashid Shaheed is a free agent by season's end. The Saints being proactive in acquiring Polk while he's out for the season is an obvious sign they believe in his upside for next season.

"I'm not going to overreact to whatever happened in New England," Saints coach Kellen Moore told The Times-Picayune's Matthew Paras. "There are some circumstances there. We liked him coming out and are excited for where he's going."

Polk ended his 2024 season with an underwhelming stat line for what we know he's capable of: only 12 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He started seven of the 15 games he played in for New England.

At Washington, Polk was the third receiver on a stacked depth chart behind Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan. With McMillan hurt for a good portion of the 2023 season, Polk stepped up as Michael Penix Jr.'s second-favorite target - hauling in 69 receptions for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns. The duo hooked up for a crucial touchdown in the Sugar Bowl versus Texas, ultimately winning the game to claim Washington a spot in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.

Polk's play with the Huskies was good enough to allow him to declare for the draft early, and was subsequently selected in the second round with the 37th overall pick to the Patriots. Now playing closer to his hometown of Lufkin, Texas - Polk is in a better situation to have a speedy recovery and get back to dominating.