The Detroit Lions have plenty of avenues they could go early in the NFL Draft.
Under the leadership of general manager Brad Holmes, the Lions have built a roster with very few clear holes. However, the team’s depth can be fine-tuned in a number of areas.
One such position that could use added contributors is the wide receiver group. Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the league’s best receivers in the slot, while Jameson Williams looks to be on the verge of a breakout in 2024.
However, the team could use another target for quarterback Jared Goff. One such answer could be Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk, who enjoyed a strong junior campaign at Washington before electing to enter the NFL Draft.
Currently, Polk is viewed as a Day Two pick by many analysts, including The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. In his Draft guide, ‘The Beast,’ Brugler wrote that Polk has the ability to adjust to passes thrown away from his body and off-target.
“With his adjustment skills and hand-eye coordination, Polk doesn’t require perfect ball placement when targeted, regardless of the route or depth,” Brugler pens. “He can comfortably gear up and down, but he needs to fine tune his press and break-point skills.”
Last season, Polk finished with career-high numbers in almost every category. He hauled in 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns on a Washington team that lost in the national championship game.
Originally committed to Texas Tech out of high school, Polk transferred to Washington after his first season. The move worked out well, as he gradually improved in two seasons before his breakout third campaign.
Polk provided excellent production despite being the Huskies’ second option. Rome Odunze, a consensus first-round pick that could potentially go in the top-10, was the team’s top pass-catcher.
Washington’s offense did play a unique, Air-Raid style that isn’t always conducive to a player having success at the NFL level. Polk will need to continue developing his route-tree, as he ran plenty of deep routes with the Huskies.
Additionally, Polk doesn’t always use his physicality against press-coverage. He can sometimes struggle in contested situations on downfield deep passes.
However, he is a willing blocker. This is a big-time separating trait for the Lions, who value pass-catchers who are willing to block. There’s been plenty of development in their receivers within this area, with Jameson Williams being a prime example.
As a result, Polk could be a nice fit for Detroit’s style. He’s a big-bodied target, standing 6-foot-1, 203 pounds. This type of build is exactly what the Lions are currently missing, as St. Brown fits the slot and Williams has the speed.
Williams has been on an upward trajectory since transferring to Washington and is expected to compete for a starting job right away. With some seasoning in his route-running and physicality, he would be a perfect piece to add to Detroit’s puzzle.
