Did the Patriots reach for Ja'Lynn Polk at the top of round two? Not if you listen to former NFL executive Randy Mueller (and me, for the record. I had him in my cluster of players who made sense for the Pats at #34. They eventually traded back and got him at #37).
Appearing on the Football GM podcast, Mueller lavished the pick with praise.
"He's a professional receiver already - Polk is," said Mueller. "He's gonna run all the routes. He's going to run with details beyond most college kids with details of playing that position. He's kind of already a professional. They did a really good job at developing players, especially offensively at UDUB (Washington), as evidenced by a bunch of them that got drafted this year. But he has some of that, so I think he plays like a veteran receiver already."
The biggest critique of Polk in the pre-draft process is his lack of top-end timed speed (he ran a 4.52 40 at the Combine). But as I wrote about during the interminably long period between the end of the season and the draft itself, a study of his tape shows Polk playing faster than that, and while he's not "sudden," there's a tactician in there, and a consistency in his route running that Pats' QBs will find to their liking - Drake Maye certainly did during Saturday's rookie minicamp in Foxborough. Plus, it bears repeating: Polk's one of the best 'Go up and get it guys' in this class, with excellent body control and an aggressive approach when the ball is in the air.
"I don't think he's slow, but he's not fifth-gear fast," said Mueller, a two-time GM (Saints and Dolphins). "And so I think he's going to fit in the middle in there somewhere with - he'll be a hard guy to cover only because he's going to catch everything. Covering him is one thing, but doing something about it is another thing. He catches the ball when covered really good, which I think sometimes is a skill set that doesn't get enough run at the NFL level."
Watching Polk during Saturday's rookie minicamp revealed that he has taken a leadership role with his fellow rookies, heading up nearly every drill. But that approach — and desire to lead — is also taking shape away from the organized practice sessions, whether working with the Jugs machine or diving headfirst into the playbook.
"I'm going to the hotel room, staying up until about 10:30 (p.m.)," he said. "Just studying the plays, trying to make sure I got everything down. Hitting Coach Hughes up and making sure everything is where it needs to be.
"I think your preparation is very important. You got to be able to be ready when your name is called and be ready for the opportunities when you get that. So just being prepared at all times and being elite."
The Washington coaches praised Polk for his work ethic throughout his time there, so this approach is familiar (he transferred to UW after spending his freshman year at Texas Tech). It also allowed him to succeed in several different roles and situations collegiately, which will be vital to finding fast footing in Foxborough. That may not equate to big numbers - at least early - according to Mueller. However, it could still deliver benefits beyond what he'll eventually be judged on: catches, yards, and touchdowns.
"I think they need a little bit of a cultural toughness, a little bit of what Jalen Polk is all about now," said Mueller. "I know the kid, and I've watched him a lot because, you know, living in Seattle, you see a lot of the Huskies. That, to me, was a cool pick because I think he brings with him a little bit of that position that the Patriots lack, and that position lacks at the NFL level.
"Now, the struggle I have in connecting him with having great production is I don't think they often seem to be very good. I think they're going to struggle, but I liked the pick. I think in the long run, Ja'Lynn Polk will be a really good player for the Patriots, and to get that kind of quality where they did, I think it was like mid-second round. I thought that was pretty good."