New York Giants Draft Prospect: WR Ja'Lynn Polk

Nick takes a look at the other receiver on the Washington Huskies that might draw the team's interest.

Author:
Nick Falato
Publish date:
Apr 03, 2024

In this story:

Ja’Lynn Polk

NFL Draft

New York Giants

Washington Huskies

Ja’Lynn Polk, WR

Height: 6’1
Weight: 203 lbs
Arm length: 31 ¾”
Wingspan: 74 ½”
Hands: 9 ¾”
Class: RS-Junior
School: Washington
Stats

MEASUREMENTS

40-yard-dash: 4.52
10-yard split: 1.52
Vertical jump: 37.5”
Broad jump: 10’9”

A former three-star recruit out of Lufkin High School in Lufkin, Texas, where he was the 55th-ranked Texan and the 76th-ranked WR in the 2020 recruiting class. Both Dez Bryant and Keke Coutee attended Lufkin High School, but Ja’Lynn Polk was just as dynamic, ranking second all-time in school history in receptions (131) and receiving yards (2,412), and third in receiving touchdowns (24).

He originally attended Texas Tech and caught 28 of 38 passes for 263 yards with two touchdowns in 2020 before transferring to Washington for the 2021 season. Unfortunately, Polk fractured his right clavicle on his first catch at Washington. He returned in Week 12 of that season.

Polk’s 2023 yardage total of 1,159 ranked sixth-most in Washington history. After Washington’s loss to Michigan in the National Championship game, Polk joined many other offensive Washington Huskies in entering the 2024 NFL Draft.

Strengths

* Has an NFL body
* Solid athlete with quick feet
* Functional burst/acceleration
* Very good overall release package
* Very good split and squirt-releases at the LOS
* Forces CBs to slide off the platform with his release package
* Can win with release and stacks well to create extra separation
* Good overall route runner - solid ability to decelerate into break
* Understands how to move up his stem to influence defenders - attacks leverage
* Ran well-spaced deep-over routes - constant hand usage kept CBs away
* Master hand fighter up the stem and out of his break
* Adjusted routes when the play broke down - can be QB’s best friend
* Excellent processor to find voided area as a route runner - bailed Penix Jr. out several times
* Controlled and balanced when adjusting on the run
* Will use subtle push to create separation on sharp cuts
* Excellent ability to adjust to footballs in the air
* Beautiful job vs. Cal Q3 14:49 when on the horizontal move
* Climbs the ladder to high-point footballs
* Soft hands - uses his length well
* Smooth using his catch radius on the run and maintaining momentum - controlled
* Good adjuster in traffic - excellent adjuster when stagnant
* Concentration and tracking are excellent
* Deep catch through huge contact
--Michigan State Q1 2:21; Q2 4:28
--Cal Q1 2:27 TD
* Contested catch threat - excels in back-shoulder situation
* Solid vision to create YAC
* Strong enough to run through poor angled tackle attempts - functional overall play strength
* Can align outside or as a big-slot
* Willing and functional run blocker - tough player

[View more draft prospect scouting profiles.]

Weaknesses

* Solid athlete, but not dynamic with just modest speed/separation ability
* Not a very sudden player
* Has stiffness - not a lot of fluidity
* Lacks breakaway speed - gets tracked down
* Play speed leaves some to be desired
* Marginal COD and agility for an NFL WR
* Ran mostly hitches, go, and crossing routes in college
* PFF had him with 1 drop vs. Oregon State - he certainly had more than 1 drop in that game - had a lot more than 4 drops on the season too
* Not dynamic in space with athletic traits to create YAC

Summary

Like his teammate Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk is adept at climbing the proverbial ladder and locating the football at its highest point. Locates the football well on the move and times his jumps advantageously to secure the football with solid play strength through contact.

He does a solid job releasing off the line of scrimmage with different styles, depending on the situation. Understand the nuances of maximizing space as a route runner with the routes he did run (working into blind spots on hitches/comebacks). He has good overall hands but certainly dropped more than just four passes in 2023.

Polk’s upside is hindered by his lack of suddenness and fluidity. He’s not a terrible athlete or a plodder, but he’s also not a dynamic athlete at the position. Still, he has the upside to work his way into an NFL team’s 11-personnel package, but creating separation may not always come easily for Polk at the next level.

GRADE: 6.14