Other than Drake Maye, the Patriots’ return on their 2024 NFL Draft continues to be minimal. On Saturday, the team moved on from another highly drafted player from that rookie class.

According to a source, the Patriots are trading wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for a 2027 sixth-round pick. This move means the Patriots have just two players on their 53-man roster from last year’s draft class – Maye and offensive lineman Caedan Wallace.

This offseason, Polk was a limited participant due to shoulder surgery. The receiver then suffered another shoulder injury in the preseason and was placed on the season-ending injured reserve.

Now, he gets a fresh start with the Saints.

Drafted 37th overall, Polk was expected to give Maye a top-tier receiving target. Instead, his rookie season turned into a similar story for the franchise.

After a solid training camp, Polk struggled in his rookie season, catching 12 passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns. To make matters worse, the Patriots traded down to select Polk in Round 2. Their original pick, No. 34, turned into standout receiver Ladd McConkey, who caught 82 passes for 1,149 yards for the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Athletic was the first to report the news of Polk’s trade.

Polk’s story is similar to when the Patriots drafted receiver Tyquan Thornton over George Pickens in 2022 and when the team drafted N’Keal Harry over the likes of A.J. Brown and Deebo Samuel.

While Polk struggled as a rookie, then-head coach Jerod Mayo suggested the receiver was struggling mentally. Polk pushed back on that notion and, when asked by MassLive about his dropped passes, he replied, “I believe I have the best hands in the league. So, I feel like my drops, that’s not an issue at all.”

This offseason, Polk was behind a long list of receivers, including DeMario Douglas, Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte, Kyle Williams, Mack Hollins, and Efton Chism.

That depth also led the Patriots to release 2024 fourth-round pick Javon Baker. That draft class has turned into a disaster for the Patriots. Fourth-round pick Layden Robinson and sixth-rounder Marcellas Dial are on the season-ending injured reserve. The team also cut seventh-rounder Jaheim Bell and traded sixth-rounder Joe Milton.

That leaves Maye and Wallace as the only remaining 2024 draft picks on the Patriots’ active roster.

The Athletic was the first to report the news of Polk’s trade.

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