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Patriots Predicted to Cut Ties With 2nd Round Draft Bust

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nathan Dougherty | Last updated Aug 23, 2025 11:49 AM ET

The New England Patriots took strides this offseason to build a competent offense around promising quarterback Drake Maye, adding Stefon Diggs and using a third-round pick on pass-catcher Kyle Williams.

There could be more big changes before the NFL season begins, with one analyst predicting the team will cut ties with last year's second-round draft pick amid struggles to start his career and an injury to wipe out his 2024 season.

USA Today's Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz predicted some surprise cuts ahead of the 53-man roster deadline, suggesting the Patriots could move on from Ja'Lynn Polk just one year after they used a second-round draft pick on him. Polk suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, but 93.7 The Fan's Andrew Filliponi reported that the Patriots had been planning on releasing him before he suffered the injury.

"Source: Steelers have done some homework on Patriots WR Ja'Lynn Polk," Fillipponi wrote. "He's likely to get cut in NE. He was the 37th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. An intriguing player to trade a 7th rounder for or claim off waivers. Stay tuned."

Middlehurst-Schwartz had also predicted that Polk was on the wrong side of the roster bubble.

"With Mike Vrabel putting his imprint on the roster right away, draft capital might not be enough to save either Polk, a second-round pick just last year, or [Javon] Baker, a fourth-round pick from the same class," Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote. "Both wideouts have seemingly been lapped by Efton Chism III, an undrafted rookie who earned Maye's seal of approval in organized team activities and caught all six of his targets for 71 yards and a touchdown last week against the Minnesota Vikings."

While the Patriots have the ability to put Polk on injured reserve, they can also waive him with an injury settlement to cut ties.

Polk struggled last season, appearing in 15 games and playing in 45% of the team's offensive snaps but making just 12 receptions for 87 yards with two touchdowns. He didn't add much on special teams either, playing just nine total snaps.

The Patriots are looking to rapidly rebuild around Maye, having brought in the former All-Pro Diggs as a centerpiece of the offense. Diggs is not likely to start the season as he continues to rehab from a knee injury that cut short his 2024 season.