Just two years into his career, the New England Patriots are moving on from former prized prospect Ja'Lynn Polk. The team sent the former second-round receiver to the New Orleans Saints in a trade on Saturday.
The Saints will send a late-round draft pick back to the Patriots for Polk, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Polk has already been ruled out for the entire 2025 season with a shoulder injury and will not return to the field until 2026.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network noted that trading players on injured reserve is “rare, but permitted.” Pelissero added that the Patriots free up roughly $2 million of Polk's rookie contract in cap space.
The Patriots initially drafted Polk in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft, hoping to pair him with Drake Maye for years to come. Instead, he only recorded 12 catches as a rookie for 87 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Polk becomes the second receiver the Saints acquired via trade in the last month. New Orleans previously acquired Devaughn Vele from the Denver Broncos during final roster cuts in exchange for a 2026 and 2027 draft pick. Vele is also a second-year receiver whom the Broncos selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
With Polk no longer on the team, the Patriots now have just six receivers on their roster. Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas and Kayshon Boutte are listed as the starters, with Mack Hollins, Efton Chism III and Kyle Williams behind them.
Saints' receiver room following Ja'Lynn Polk trade
Once Polk officially joins the Saints, he will fight for a place in the team's deep receiver rotation. New Orleans already has Chris Olave, Brandin Cooks, Mason Tipton, Trey Palmer and Vele under contract through the 2026 season. Rashid Shaheed, who signed a one-year extension in the 2024 offseason, is the only rotational player not yet under contract through 2026.
Although Polk has yet to show much in his career, he gets a fresh start in an advantageous position. The 23-year-old joins first-year head coach Kellen Moore and renowned offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier's pass-heavy offense in New Orleans. Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler attempted 46 passes in Week 1 despite the relatively close score throughout.
As a native of Lufkin, Texas, Polk also moves significantly closer to his hometown. Lufkin is just over a five-hour drive away from New Orleans.
