The New England Patriots have bolstered their receiving corps with the selection of Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk as the 37th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Patriots acquired this pick through a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Polk, 22, began his college football journey at Texas Tech before transferring to the University of Washington in 2021. During his time at Washington, Polk grew into a key player for the Huskies, especially in his final season in 2023. He became a reliable target for quarterback Michael Penix Jr., accumulating 69 receptions for 1,159 yards and scoring nine touchdowns.
With his combination of size, speed, and route-running skills, Polk offers the Patriots a dynamic receiving threat. His ability to stretch the field and make big plays will be a welcome addition to the Patriots’ offense as they continue to rebuild and strengthen their roster.
Polk, who has drawn comparisons to ex-Patriot Jakobi Meyers in the pre-draft process, played both on the inside and the outside for the Huskies. The expectation is that the 6-foot-1, 203-pounder will fill a similar role for a New England team in need of pass catcher help — especially on the perimeter.
Polk offers solid size to play both on the X or elsewhere in the formation. His 4.52-second 40-yard dash may not stand out, but he is a good overall athlete with starting-caliber traits.
The Patriots now have selected two players in this year’s draft. They selected North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the third overall pick in the first round on Thursday, and have now added Polk to the mix as well.
New England is next scheduled to be on the clock at No. 68 in the third round.
