Former Patriots 2024 2nd-round choose abruptly retires from NFL
New England Patriots
Polk performed only one full season within the NFL with the Patriots in 2024.
One of many prime Patriots draft whiffs in franchise historical past is strolling away from the NFL after simply two seasons within the league.
Huge receiver Ja’Lynn Polk — who was drafted by New England with the thirty seventh choose within the 2024 NFL Draft — was positioned on the reserve/retired listing by the Saints on Sunday, forward of what would have been his first wholesome season in New Orleans.
Polk, who had a formidable collegiate profession on the College of Washington, was anticipated to turn into a key cog in New England’s revamped offense alongside a promising younger QB chosen third general in the identical 2024 NFL Draft, Drake Maye.
However, whereas Maye confirmed promise as a starter close to the tail finish of the 2024 season, Polk struggled to search out traction in what could be his solely season in Foxborough. Polk appeared in 15 whole video games throughout New England’s disastrous 2024 marketing campaign, recording 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
Polk’s struggles have been additional exacerbated by a couple of ill-advised feedback throughout his rookie season, with the wideout claiming he had the “greatest arms within the league” regardless of getting knocked for a number of drops through the season.
After then-head coach Jerod Mayo referred to as Polk out following a loss to the Jaguars that season, Polk made a cryptic social media submit that some interpreted as a sign that he wished to go away the staff.
Polk finally remained on the staff and had a clear slate going into the 2025 season, solely to endure a shoulder damage in New England’s preseason opener that ended his second season earlier than it may even start.
New England later traded Polk to the Saints in a choose swap in September 2025, with the Patriots receiving a 2027 sixth-round choose and giving up a 2028 seventh-round choice together with Polk.
Polk didn’t play a recreation with the Saints final season as a consequence of damage, however was an everyday participant throughout offseason exercises and minicamp for New Orleans as he tried to carve out a beginning position as soon as once more.
Regardless of being accounted for at the beginning of New Orleans’ coaching camp, Luke Johnson of NOLA.com reported that Polk missed the final two days of apply with what the Saints deemed as an “excused absence for private causes.”
Polk stands as one of many bigger draft busts in current Patriots historical past, particularly when factoring in a few of the different gifted wideouts accessible round the place New England chosen him within the 2024 NFL Draft.
New England initially had the No. 34 choose within the 2024 draft, however they traded it to the Chargers and moved down three spots. At No. 34, the Chargers took vast receiver Ladd McConkey, who reeled in 82 catches for 1,149 yards and 7 touchdowns in his rookie 12 months with Los Angeles in 2024.
Drafting wideouts has been a franchise flaw for New England through the years, with a number of excessive draft picks like Polk, 2022 second-round choose Tyquan Thornton, and 2019 first-round choose N’Keal Harry all failing to complete out their rookie contracts with the Patriots.
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