The New England Patriots and Ja’Lynn Polk will go their separate ways in the future. Just 17 months after he joined the team as a second-round pick in the NFL Draft, the sophomore wide receiver has been traded to the New Orleans Saints.
The Patriots are sending Polk and a 2028 seventh-round draft selection to the Saints in return for a 2027 sixth-rounder, as first reported by Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
Polk, 23, arrived in New England as the 37th overall pick in the 2024 draft out of the University of Washington. Despite being a highly-touted prospect at a position of need, who received plenty of quality reps during his rookie training camp, he failed to make much of an impact in his first season.
Polk saw action in 15 games and was on the field for 436 snaps on offense (39.9%) plus nine more on special teams snaps (2.1%). In total, he was the target of 31 passes between quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Drake Maye, but finished the season with only 12 catches for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. A shoulder injury eventually forced the team to send him to injured reserve leading up to the season finale.
Still recovering from offseason surgery, Polk was limited during offseason workouts. He did upgrade to full practice participation in training camp but still failed to earn a regular role in the team’s rebuilt receiver room.
Polk then went on to re-injure his shoulder in the preseason opener against Washington. He later was moved to season-ending injured reserve ahead of late August’s roster cutdown day. Now, he has been removed from the list via trade.
The Polk-less Patriots will play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. Kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium is set for 1 p.m. ET.
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