Coming into this season, one of the biggest question marks for the Patriots (1-5) outside of their offensive line was their lack of big play ability within their wide receiver group.
New England’s front office had multiple public flirtations with the likes of Calvin Ridley and Brandon Aiyuk this offseason, but no deal was able to get done for a No. 1 level receiver.
The group they had was what they were going to have to roll with for the 2024 season, save for the possibility of a trade for a disgruntled wideout down the line (Jets beat them to the punch on that front).
So all eyes were on rookie second-round pick Ja’Lynn Polk, who flashed during the preseason with fellow rookie Drake Maye to the point where fans were ready for the University of Washington product to step in and be a top-tier talent from the jump.
Then the regular season started, and the rookie fell off a cliff.
On the year, Polk has 10 catches on 23 targets for 78 yards and 1 touchdown.
Head coach Jerod Mayo was asked about Polk’s struggles during his Monday morning media availability on Webex.
“I think he just needs to get over this mental hump,” said Mayo. “You’ve got to eliminate the dropped passes. You’ve got to be better at blocking, which he did a great job in college at that and at times throughout the season.
“He just has to continue to grow, and he has to work harder. He has to pay more attention to the details, and we fully expect him to grow into a receiver that's dependable on run and pass downs.”
During Sunday’s 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans (5-1), Polk saw the second-most snaps among receivers, with 43 on the day. He only managed 1 catch on 4 targets for 4 yards.
Polk has been completely passed by second-year wide receiver Kayshon Boutte, who needed a strong training camp and preseason to even guarantee himself a roster spot for this season.
Boutte, who led all Patriots receivers with 55 snaps, had 3 catches for 59 yards on Sunday, with the exclamation point being a 40-yard touchdown catch for his first career trip to the end zone at the end of the first half to make it a one-score game.
While Patriots coaches will take that production where they can get it, these are the types of clutch moments you want to be seeing on film from the 37th overall pick in Polk.
Mayo said on Monday that when he watches the film, it’s clear who his top group of receivers are at the moment, even if the position group is giving him the same types of headaches as his offensive line.
“It’s the same thing that we're going through with the offensive line,” said Mayo. “I think when I look at the film, it's Boutte, it's ‘Pop’ [DeMario Douglas], it's [Kendrick Bourne], and we need the rest of those guys to step up and make plays.”
Polk and the rest of his receiver group will have a chance to impress their first-year head coach in Week 7, as the Patriots head to London to take on the Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5).
Through six games, the Jaguars defense ranks 31st in total defense, as well as last in passing yards allowed at 276.7 per game. They’ve allowed the most passing touchdowns in the NFL at 14, two more than the next closest team. They’re ranked 31st in scoring defense, allowing 29.7 points per game, as well as last in red zone defense at 76.2%.
With a new quarterback under center who showed in Week 6 he isn’t afraid to sling the rock around, the Jaguars are the perfect opponent for a get-right game for this position group.
Let’s see if Polk can take advantage of Jacksonville’s soft coverage, and prove to his coaches and fans why he was picked where he was in the spring.