Patriots rookie Ja’Lynn Polk may make instant affect on subject

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Fast-hit ideas and notes across the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. Polk’s toughness: The Patriots had tried to commerce into the top of the primary spherical of April’s NFL draft, in line with a number of NFL sources, when a run of receivers began to return off the board. Texas’ Xavier Worthy went to the Chiefs at 28. Florida’s Ricky Pearsall went to the 49ers at No. 31. South Carolina’s Xavier Legette, fairly probably the Patriots’ prime goal, was scooped up by the Panthers in a commerce as much as 32. Then Florida State’s Keon Coleman went to the Payments at 33 and Georgia’s Ladd McConkey to the Chargers at 34, with the Patriots buying and selling out of that spot to 37, the place they took Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk.

That is six receivers in a 10-pick span, and the way Polk measures up towards his pass-catching friends will likely be among the many prime components that determines the success of the franchise’s first draft underneath the brand new regime of government vice chairman of participant personnel Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo.

It’s too early to know which route it can head, however because the Patriots are presently on break earlier than their first coaching camp follow July 24, one factor will be decisively said about Polk’s preliminary work: His toughness and relentless mentality mirrored effectively on the tradition Wolf and Mayo hope to create.

Maybe no higher instance was the ultimate play of obligatory minicamp: Fellow rookie quarterback Drake Maye lofted a back-shoulder fade to the precise nook of the top zone, and the 6-foot-1, 203-pound Polk snatched it regardless of tight protection from undrafted rookie cornerback Mikey Victor and maintained possession as he crashed to the bottom, with officers ruling him in bounds.

It was a big-time effort in one of many highest-stakes conditions of spring follow, with the vocal response from the protection reflecting it. Polk’s play got here as little shock to those that have watched him going again to his time at Lufkin Excessive Faculty in Texas.

“One of many issues I first noticed in Ja’Lynn was how powerful he was for a wideout — bodily on the prime of breaks, bodily on the line of scrimmage, and he made aggressive catches,” stated Matt Wells, an affiliate head coach at Kansas State and a former Texas Tech head coach who landed Polk as a recruit for his first school season earlier than transferring to Washington. “I simply thought the aggressive spirit in him — for a highschool participant as a junior — was A-plus.”

Wells famous “toughness, self-discipline and accountability” was a part of the DNA of many gamers from head coach Todd Fast’s program at Lufkin — Polk included. Lufkin can be former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant’s alma mater.

Rookie WR Ja’Lynn Polk coming in sizzling … pic.twitter.com/iTz5jMzsPM

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 4, 2024

Polk transferred from Texas Tech after one season, partially resulting from adjustments on the offensive teaching workers, and introduced the identical method to Washington. Final season was his best — totaling 69 catches for 1,159 yards and 9 touchdowns — and first-year Patriots receivers coach Tyler Hughes noticed it first-hand as he was serving as an assistant coach on the Huskies’ workers. That has given Hughes a singular window into Polk’s transition to the NFL.

“He has a very nice work ethic and a course of that he sticks to each single day. He is been good about that. I feel his enchancment has come from studying our system and playbook and the way his ability set suits into that,” Hughes stated.

“Like several new participant coming in, you will have some stuff you’ve performed in your previous which have been actually good for you — it’s important to use these — but additionally have an open-minded method and say, ‘What else can I do to enhance?’ as a result of clearly gamers are somewhat bit higher and somewhat bit quicker. He is performed job of claiming, ‘That is what I do know, that is what I have to work on,’ and he is labored at it day by day.”

Polk has an opportunity to carve out a direct area of interest within the Patriots’ receiving corps. His further work with Maye after follow, amongst different issues, had Mayo referring to him as a “self-starter.”

Former Viking Ok.J. Osborn, in his fifth NFL season, has positioned himself as an early chief amongst Patriots receivers (one instance: he was often first by drills). Second-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas seems as fast as ever. Add in Polk, and that might be the group’s prime three targets if everyone seems to be wholesome.

Fourth-round choose Javon Baker (Central Florida) must also have a roster spot, whereas 2022 second-round choose Tyquan Thornton, 2023 sixth-rounder Kayshon Boutte and veterans JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Reagor all made performs at occasions this spring that served as a reminder they cannot be counted out but.

And Kendrick Bourne is anticipated to be wholesome as he returns from a torn ACL, and must be a part of the combo, too.

Polk, sporting the No. 1 jersey final worn by Cam Newton, practices with an edge. In a single drill, he almost put himself right into a reporter’s digicam by working after a catch by the again of the top zone. Why cease one’s momentum when it is full tilt on a regular basis?

“Simply competing day by day,” Polk stated. “I really feel like every thing is all the time in your preparation — how you take all the knowledge we’re getting, being a professional, and placing it on the sector on a constant foundation. That is what they’re on the lookout for.”

2. Hoyer’s take: Former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer was a visitor on ESPN’s “NFL Stay” on Wednesday, and his presence sparked a dialogue on the 2 sizzling matters surrounding New England: quarterback and head coach.

On when to begin QB Maye: “Jacoby [Brissett] is sort of a little brother to me. We have been teammates. We’re buddies. The Patriots signed Jacoby to be the starter immediately, figuring out they have been drafting a quarterback with that choose, as a result of he is succesful and performed a variety of soccer. He is very endearing to his teammates; they love him. He is the proper man to mentor Drake Maye.”

On Mayo: “I performed with Jerod. I got here in a yr after he did and he was a frontrunner already as a second-year participant. He ended his profession and went into the company world, so he is anyone that may relate to this youthful technology. Jerod coming proper after Invoice [Belichick] — he discovered from Invoice, however he is additionally bridging that hole to the youth. He has his personal taste and persona. Speaking to among the guys [with the team now], they love the way in which he is approaching it. You simply have to hold that over to wins in the course of the season.”

3. Mayo twist: One instance of how Mayo is placing his personal stamp on the Patriots is what time they plan to follow in coaching camp — 11 a.m. ET. Underneath Belichick in his last stretch of seasons, the group practiced at 9:30 a.m. Maybe now there is a bit more time for conferences earlier than follow, and temperatures will rise a bit and check the group’s conditioning.

4. Bolden’s return: One of many scariest moments of the Patriots’ 2023 preseason got here when then-rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden was immobilized and stretchered off the sector in a recreation towards the Packers, prompting the groups to finish the sport early. Bolden, a seventh-round draft pick of Jackson State, had been recognized with a concussion and spent the season on injured reserve.

Absolutely wholesome once more after having been cleared close to the top of final season, Bolden participated totally in spring practices, and Mayo famous: “He is one in all our quickest guys on the group. He must be a demon on particular groups.”

As for potential contributions on protection, Mayo stated it’s more durable to evaluate larger corners just like the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Bolden till the pads come on in coaching camp. Ditto for the offensive line, which stays one of many group’s greatest query marks.

5. Do you know? Polk was one in all seven College of Washington gamers chosen throughout the first three rounds of the draft, which tied Michigan for probably the most. In accordance with ESPN Stats & Data, it marked the primary time a Pac-12 college had at the very least a share of probably the most picks by three rounds since USC did in 2009 (with six).