Washington Huskies wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Washington star WR declares for 2024 NFL Draft

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 1/9/24

The Washington Huskies are going to have some major work to do this summer to rebuild their dominant passing attack.

Less than 24 hours after the team's national championship loss to Michigan, wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk declared for the 2024 NFL Draft where he figures to be one of the top pass catchers available.

Polk was a key part of the No. 2 passing offense in the country this season and helped lead the Huskies to a 14-1 record and national title game appearance.

Star Washington wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk is leaving school to declare the NFL Draft, he told ESPN on Tuesday. Polk is coming off a shining 2023 season where he caught 69 balls, had 1,159 receiving yards and played an outsized role in the country’s No. 2 passing attack. pic.twitter.com/BpmVARiJcD
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 9, 2024

Polk spent the past three seasons in Washington with his 2023 season being a breakout performance that really put him on the map nationally. He caught 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns. He also added one rushing touchdown this season.

Along with Polk, Washington is also set to lose starting quarterback — and Heisman Trophy finalist — Michael Penix Jr. and fellow wide receiver Rome Odunze to the NFL.

Penix Jr. and Odunze figure to be first-round picks, with Odunze perhaps being the second wide receiver off the board behind only Ohio State's Marvin Harrison Jr.

Polk has a shot to get picked later in the first round, but is more likely to go on Day 2 of the draft in either the second-or third-round.

With Penix Jr., Odunze and Polk leading the offense the Huskies averaged 36.0 points per game (13th in the nation) and 343.7 passing yards per game (second in the nation, trailing only the Oregon Ducks).

Losing all three of them in one offseason is going to put a significant dent in that once dominant offense.

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