Saints' unusual trade for injured wide receiver a bet on head coach Kellen Moore

New Orleans Saints coaching staff will be important to Ja'Lynn Polk's future development

Trading for Polk is a bet on Kellen Moore and the Saints coaching staff, particularly wide receivers coach Keith Williams and assistant wide receivers coach Kyle Valero, to get the most out of valued 2024 NFL Draft prospect.

The second-rounder broke out in 2023 with the Washington Huskies, where he had 69 receptions, 1,159 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. Polk was a non-factor as a rookie a season ago, appearing in 15 games (seven starts) and finishing the season with 12 receptions, 87 yards and two touchdowns. Per ESPN Analytics, he had the second-lowest overall receiving score among 116 wide receivers in 2024.

Polk must take significant strides to carve out a meaningful role for himself in the NFL, but if he comes close to approaching the production that made him a Day 2 draft pick, he'll be a steal going for a sixth-round selection. Otherwise, New Orleans threw away a future pick. 

It speaks to the team's confidence in the coaching staff that it would even take a flier on a player like Polk. Why trade for an injured, struggling receiver if there are doubts about its ability to develop him?

Polk is the second receiver on a rookie contract the Saints have acquired in the past month. Before teams cut down to their 53-man rosters, New Orleans acquired receiver Devaughn Vele from the Denver Broncos.

The Saints, who entered the season with the league's lowest projected over-under win total (4.5), are nowhere near contending. By spending future draft capital on Polk, New Orleans made that even clearer. The deal shows the Saints aren't attempting to build a playoff team this season, but rather scouring for talent for future seasons, when the outlook might be brighter.

The chances of Polk figuring things out can't be any lower than New Orleans using that 2027th sixth-rounder on a difference-maker, so it's hard to fault the front office for taking a swing. He certainly has more upside than anyone the Saints could add late in Day 3 of the draft. But unless they have the right coaching infrastructure, Saturday's trade could be a wasted opportunity.