Patriots rookie Ja’Lynn Polk may make rapid affect on area

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 tip of the primary spherical of April’s NFL draft, in response to 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 presumably the Patriots’ high 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 in opposition to his pass-catching friends will likely be among the many high components that determines the success of the franchise’s first draft below the brand new regime of government vp of participant personnel Eliot Wolf and head coach Jerod Mayo.

It’s too early to know which route it’ll head, however because the Patriots are at the moment on break earlier than their first coaching camp follow July 24, one factor could be decisively acknowledged 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 necessary minicamp: Fellow rookie quarterback Drake Maye lofted a back-shoulder fade to the proper nook of the tip 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 College in Texas.

“One of many issues I first noticed in Ja’Lynn was how robust he was for a wideout — bodily on the high 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 also be former Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant’s alma mater.

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

— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 4, 2024

Polk transferred from Texas Tech after one season, partly as a result of adjustments on the offensive teaching employees, 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’ employees. 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 matches into that,” Hughes stated.

“Like several new participant coming in, you’ve gotten some belongings you’ve finished in your previous which were actually good for you — it’s a must 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 finished a superb job of claiming, ‘That is what I do know, that is what I must work on,’ and he is labored at it every single day.”

Polk has an opportunity to carve out a right away 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 normally first by way of drills). Second-year slot receiver DeMario Douglas seems as fast as ever. Add in Polk, and that could possibly be the crew’s high three targets if everyone seems to be wholesome.

Fourth-round decide Javon Baker (Central Florida) also needs to have a roster spot, whereas 2022 second-round decide 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 can not be counted out but.

And Kendrick Bourne is anticipated to be wholesome as he returns from a torn ACL, and ought to 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 practically put himself right into a reporter’s digicam by operating after a catch by way of the again of the tip zone. Why cease one’s momentum when it is full tilt on a regular basis?

“Simply competing every single day,” Polk stated. “I really feel like all the things is all the time in your preparation — how you are taking all the data we’re getting, being a professional, and placing it on the sphere on a constant foundation. That is what they’re in search of.”

2. Hoyer’s take: Former Patriots quarterback Brian Hoyer was a visitor on ESPN’s “NFL Dwell” on Wednesday, and his presence sparked a dialogue on the 2 scorching 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 had been teammates. We’re mates. The Patriots signed Jacoby to be the starter immediately, realizing they had been drafting a quarterback with that decide, as a result of he is succesful and performed quite a lot 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 era. Jerod coming proper after Invoice [Belichick] — he realized from Invoice, however he is additionally bridging that hole to the youth. He has his personal taste and character. 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 throughout 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. Below Belichick in his remaining stretch of seasons, the crew 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 crew’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 sphere in a sport in opposition to the Packers, prompting the groups to finish the sport early. Bolden, a seventh-round draft pick of Jackson State, had been identified with a concussion and spent the season on injured reserve.

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

As for potential contributions on protection, Mayo stated it’s tougher 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 crew’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 line with ESPN Stats & Info, it marked the primary time a Pac-12 college had a minimum of a share of probably the most picks by way of three rounds since USC did in 2009 (with six).