Saints’ Ja’Lynn Polk may get first on-field exposure during OTAs

By Ross Jackson

A lot of the excitement around the New Orleans Saints’ upcoming OTA period is linked to the team’s rookie class and other newcomers. But one player that has managed to garner a lot of attention despite not taking the field yet for New Orleans is wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. 

Polk could be set to get his first on-field exposure in front of the local media next week as OTAs kick off. 

The Saints traded to acquire Polk from the New England Patriots last offseason. They sent the Patriots a 2027 sixth-round selection for Polk and a 2028 seventh-round pick. 

The former Washington Huskies wideout spent the entirety of the 2025 season recovering from a shoulder injury. New Orleans made the trade knowing that he would be out for the year. That signaled a deep-rooted interest in the pass-catchers skill and fit with the team. 

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound receiver was selected No. 37 overall in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was a promising talent coming out of Washington with impressive contested catch skills and great route-running acumen. The Saints were a fan of his during the draft process, and took their chance to add him to their roster while he was recovering. 

Now, he is expected to finally hit the field after doing a lot of offseason work with quarterback Tyler Shough and other teammates over the last few months. This will provide the local media, and thereby fans, the first look at Polk as a Saint. 

He hasn’t had much opportunity in the NFL just yet, tallying just 12 receptions for 87 receiving yards and a pair of touchdown catches during his rookie season. In college, he impressed to the tune of 143 receptions, 2,231 receiving yards and 18 touchdown catches. 

Many hope that Polk will live up to his collegiate billing as he returns to action for the Saints this offseason.