I wouldn’t have minded him in the 3rd. He’s going to be a 50/50 ball kind of guy in the pros, IMO.
NFL GameDay The official 2024 NFL Draft thread.
- Thread starter Kontradiction
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GameDay Discussion
That’s a good pick by the Tits as long as he keeps his nose clean. Massive anchor up front, but he’s only a two down player right now.
I would like to see them grab another guy later, like Luke McCaffrey
Lord Chevy
I'm home
Not another N'Keal, is he?
jlaff
Well-known member
13. JA’LYNN POLK | Washington 6013 | 203 lbs. | 4JR Lufkin, Texas (Lufkin) 4/11/2002 (age 22.04) #2BACKGROUND: Ja’Lynn (JAY-lin) “J.P.” Polk, who has a younger sister, was born and raised in East Texas. He moved around growing up, living in places likeNacogdoches and Baytown (east of Houston). Despite getting a late start in organized sports (soccer was the first organized sport he played), he developed a love forbasketball while playing on the AAU circuit and had dreams of making it to the NBA. However, Polk started playing little league football in sixth grade and became thetop offensive weapon at Bonnette Junior High in Deer Park. Prior to high school, he moved to Lufkin, Texas and attended Lufkin High School, the alma mater of NFLreceivers Dez Bryant and Keke Coutee. After seeing varsity action as a freshman (his first time committing to wide receiver), Polk posted 40 catches for 667 yards andsix touchdowns as a sophomore, earning honorable mention All-District honors. As a junior, he helped Lufkin to a 10-2 record and the 2018 district championship, andhe earned first team All-District with 37 receptions for 695 yards and nine touchdowns. Polk again led the team to a district title in 2019 — he was named third teamAll-State and the district’s Offensive MVP. He finished his senior year with 54 catches for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns, desp ite a late-season shoulder injury.Polk, who also starred on the 7-on-7 circuit, lettered in basketball and track at Lufkin and set personal bests of 22.89 seconds in the 200 meters, 52.94 in the 400meters and 6 feet in the high jump.A three-star recruit, Polk was the No. 80 wide receiver in the 2020 recruiting class and the No. 65 recruit in Texas. He received his first offer the summer before hissophomore year (June 2017), from Illinois. As a junior, Polk picked up several other offers, including from Arkansas, Baylor, Houston, Kansas, Kansas State andNevada. Towards the end of his junior year, he received an offer from Texas Tech, and the Red Raiders made his final four (al ong with Arizona, Arkansas and Baylor).In June 2019, Polk committed to Texas Tech and former head coach Matt Wells. He was the No. 3 recruit in Texas Tech’s 2020 class. After one season with theprogram, he wanted a new start (Polk: “Things weren’t really what I thought they would be.”) and entered the transfer p ortal (January 2021). Polk narrowed hischoice to Houston, Kentucky and Washington, and he committed to the Huskies (without taking a visit), because a few of their receivers were set to leave (like PukaNacua, who transferred to BYU). After three years at Washington, Polk elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2024 NFL Draft.
That’s who I would comp him to. Slightly more athletic.
COMBINE 6013 203 9 3/4 31 3/4 74 1/2 4.52 2.65 1.59 37 1/2 10’9” - - - (no shuttle, 3-cone, bench press — choice)PRO DAY 6012 204 10 31 3/4 74 - - - - - - - - (position drills only — choice)STRENGTHS: Owns decent size and length, and he makes himself a sizable target … above-average focus and naturally tracks the ball over his shoulder on fades andbucket throws … routinely bails out the quarterback with his full-extension adjustments to the ball in flight … runs well with speed releases versus press and theacceleration to stack and get on top of coverage … not afraid to work over the middle and shows urgency in the quick game … you’ll love his mentality as a blocker(had several key blocks on Rome Odunze’s punt-return touchdown against Cal in 2023) … Washington coaching staff speaks highly of his work ethic and dailyapproach, in both practices and games (head coach Kalen DeBoer: “J.P. is one of the toughest and strongest kids we have on the football team.”) … experienced liningup across the formation … stepped up his production in 2023.WEAKNESSES: Needs continued route work to convincingly sell vertical stem … average separation quickness and lacks explosiveness at the break point … comes offthe line tall, and physical corners will stall him early … doesn’t have the elusive qualities to easily shake tacklers and create YAC … reliable hands-catcher butinconsistent finishing in a crowd … needs to show better awareness for where the sticks are … suffered a fractured clavicle i n his right collarbone during the 2021season opener (September 2021), which required surgery and forced him to miss the next nine games (returned for the final two games).SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Washington, Polk lined up both inside and outside in former offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb’s spread scheme (58.7 percentwide, 41.1 percent slot). After one season at Texas Tech, his production steadily increased during each of his three seasons with Washington, including a career yearin 2023 as the secondary option (behind Odunze) for Michael Penix Jr. With his adjustment skills and hand -eye coordination, Polk doesn’t require perfect ballplacement when targeted, regardless of the route or depth. He can comfortably gear up and down, but he needs to fine tune his press and break-point skills. Overall,Polk must continue developing as a route runner, but he is natural athlete addressing the football, with three-level instincts and pro-level toughness. A potentialNFL starter, his game is reminiscent of Josh Palmer’s when he was coming out of Tennessee.GRADE: 3rd Round (No. 74 overall)
He’s basically going to be someone who feasts on zone. Washington got him a lot of free releases that aren’t going to happen at the pro level. I worry that he will have trouble releasing against man at this level.
jlaff
Well-known member
Kraft knows what's he's doing.
that doesnt sound great lol, would read better if it was about an inline TE or something but not a WR
These people in the crowd are such losers.
Can’t watch this anymore. The McAfee cast was so much better. Not sure why we need a fucking sob story after every pick. Just show the tape.
Bold move for the Patriots to draft Jakobi Meyers in the second round...
I hear ya. I’m trying to look at the positives, good size and speed, not impressive but solid. His hands and catch radius though seem like his best attributes
