The transaction marks an unceremonious end of Polk’s brief and underwhelming tenure in New England. The Patriots drafted Polk in the second round last year, with hopes that he could have an immediate impact and serve as a reliable contributor. But his rookie season proved to be incredibly disappointing, as he finished with just 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.
“I hate to use this analogy, but you know in ‘The Dark Knight,’ it’s, the hero you need isn’t the hero that you have?” executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf said in February at the scouting combine. “I think organizationally we maybe put too much on his plate early, and I think that really stunted his growth a little bit.”
Polk underwent offseason shoulder surgery that exclusive his availability throughout the spring. When he returned to the field for training camp, he expressed an interest to enter the year with “a new focus.” Despite his draft status, Polk was still going to have to earn his spot on the roster because of the number of offseason moves the Patriots made at the position.
A shoulder injury suffered in the preseason opener, though, ended Polk’s 2025 season before it could even begin. The team placed him on injured reserve without the designation to return.
Polk was under contract through the 2027 season. If he remained with the Patriots, he was once again going to have to fight for a roster spot next summer. Instead, he’ll get a fresh start with a rebuilding team in New Orleans.
The Patriots have just three players remaining from their eight-player 2024 draft class. Quarterback Drake Maye and offensive lineman Caedan Wallace are on the active roster, while cornerback Marcellas Dial Jr. (ACL) is on injured reserve.
Initially, the Patriots held the No. 34 pick in the 2024 draft, but they traded it to the Chargers and moved down three spots. At No. 34, the Chargers took wide receiver Ladd McConkey. By the end of his rookie year, Polk became better known for the fact the Patriots passed on McConkey (82 receptions, 1,149 yards, 7 touchdowns) than for his own accomplishments.
Polk marks yet another example of New England’s inability to draft and develop receivers with premium draft capital. The organization used a first-rounder on N’Keal Harry in 2019, a second-rounder on Tyquan Thornton in ’22, and a second-rounder on Polk. None of the players finished their rookie contract with the Patriots.
Because the Patriots already expected Polk to miss the entirety of the 2025 season, not much changes for the team this year. Kayshon Boutte, Efton Chism III, Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, and Kyle Williams are all under contract through 2026.
Nicole Yang can be reached at nicole.yang@globe.com.Follow her @nicolecyang.
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