The Patriots had a chance to draft a potential No. 1 wide receiver but instead were left waiting to see what a rookie duo could do next season.
New England reportedly tried to trade back into the first round in the 2024 NFL Draft. There were plenty of names also available at the top of the second round. Instead, the Patriots moved back three spots to take Ja’Lynn Polk and use a sixth-round pick on Javon Baker. The Los Angeles Chargers, that team that moved up, took Ladd McConkey, who is on pace for a 1,000-yard season.
“We did some work on him. A guy that can get open versus man coverage,” Jerod Mayo told reporters of McConkey, per a team-provided video. “He’s playing well right now. He spaces in zone coverage. He’s definitely a player you have to keep your eye on.”
It’s a tough look to have one wide receiver outperform the two players you drafted. However, fans are unlikely to hear Mayo express any regret about the draft process.
“As a whole, we’re always looking to improve our roster,” Mayo said. “We’re in a position that happens to be that it could change on a daily basis during those times. We got the guys we have here, and we’re just focused on this game.”
The draft day trade didn’t reflect well on Eliot Wolf, and the Patriots will have to hope Year 2 for Polk and Baker works out better than their rookie seasons.
