Patriots trade WR Ja’Lynn Polk to Saints in surprising draft pick swap despite shoulder injury

NFL trades are usually about instant impact but this one’s a curveball. The New England Patriots just shipped wide receiver Ja’Lynn Polk to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a late-round draft pick swap, even though the second-year wideout is out for the entire 2025 season with a shoulder injury.

It’s a low-key deal on paper, but the timing and circumstances make it one of the more intriguing roster moves this week.

The trade details show Patriots moving on and Saints betting on upside

Here’s the breakdown, the Patriots are sending Polk and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Saints in exchange for a 2027 sixth-round pick. On the surface, it’s not blockbuster material. But when you dig in, both teams have clear motivations.

For the Patriots, it’s all about cleaning up the receiver room and getting a small draft upgrade.

Polk’s injury meant he wasn’t going to contribute in 2025 anyway, so flipping him for future value is the classic Belichick-style move.

For the Saints, this is a buy-low gamble. They’re taking on an injured wideout, but one who flashed potential as a rookie and came into the league with strong second-round draft pedigree. Giving up essentially nothing but draft positioning to stash Polk could pay off down the road if he recovers fully.

Ja’Lynn Polk’s shoulder surgery and how it shapes this trade

The elephant in the room is Polk’s health. The 23-year-old receiver landed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery to repair a shoulder issue, ending his sophomore season before it even started. That made him a non-factor for the Patriots this year, but it also gave the Saints a shot to scoop him up for cheap.When healthy, Polk has the tools to be a reliable possession receiver. He showed flashes of that during his rookie season in New England, even if the overall offense around him was shaky. For the Patriots, this is a simple case of getting value where they can. They move up slightly in draft capital and free up a roster spot for players who can help now. With an offense already in transition, holding onto an injured receiver didn’t make much sense.For the Saints, it’s about patience. Polk won’t help them in 2025, but they’ve added a young, cheap piece who could become part of their future receiving core. It’s the kind of move smart front offices make when they’re willing to play the long game.Also read - Xavier Worthy injury status: No surgery needed, but Chiefs rookie expected to miss Eagles game