If the New Orleans Saints are looking for their next breakout wide receiver, they might not need to look any further than their own locker room. While fans are understandably buzzing about the upcoming 2026 draft class and dreaming of adding a dynamic playmaker like Carnell Tate or Jordyn Tyson, there’s already a name worth watching: Ja’Lynn Polk.
Quarterback Tyler Shough, who showed flashes of chemistry with Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele during the 2025 season, recently sat down with former Saints tackle Terron Armstead on The Set podcast. The conversation covered a lot of ground - from Shough’s upbringing as an Arizona Cardinals fan to his journey through injuries in college - but one of the most compelling takeaways was his praise for Polk, a young receiver who didn’t play a single snap for New Orleans this past season.
Polk’s 2025 campaign never really got off the ground. After being selected in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots - three picks ahead of where Shough would later be taken - Polk caught just 12 passes for 87 yards as a rookie.
His role diminished quickly, logging fewer than 18 routes per game after Week 7. A shoulder injury in August landed him on injured reserve, and not long after, he was traded to the Saints.
From the outside, it might look like Polk is fighting an uphill battle. But inside the Saints’ facility, Shough sees something different - a player grinding to make the most of his second chance.
“J. Polk, yeah, I mean, I see him watching film by himself when I’m in there, and he don’t need to be there.
He’s not even playing right now, he’s on IR. He’s grinding.
He’s working every single day,” Shough said. That kind of dedication doesn’t go unnoticed, especially from a quarterback trying to build rapport with his receivers.
Shough even mentioned a team-building fishing trip he and Polk planned with a few Saints staffers in Jean Lafitte - a small gesture, sure, but one that speaks volumes about the culture they’re trying to build.
What makes Polk intriguing isn’t just his work ethic - it’s the skill set that got him drafted in the first place. At Washington, Polk thrived in the slot, where he ran about 40% of his routes and consistently found ways to get open.
But in New England, that number was slashed in half. He was pushed outside, lining up wide on 80% of his routes, per Pro Football Focus.
The results weren’t great - separation was an issue, and contested catches didn’t go his way. In short, he was miscast in a role that didn’t play to his strengths.
Now in New Orleans, there’s a chance to hit the reset button. Polk, listed at 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds, brings size and a catch radius that complements the Saints’ current receiving corps.
Chris Olave is the technician, the route-running savant. Vele is growing into his own.
Polk could be the physical presence that rounds out the trio - if the Saints can put him in the right spots.
Shough certainly believes in the potential. “I think the growth and expansion of Devaughn Vele, and Ja’Lynn Polk as well, I think those guys have kind of been under the radar,” he said. And he’s right - both Vele and Polk are flying low on the national radar right now, but that could change quickly if they click with Shough in 2026.
It’s far too early to crown Polk as the next go-to guy in New Orleans. He’s still got to prove it on the field. But if the Saints can tap into the version of Polk that made plays at Washington - and if Shough continues to build chemistry with him - this could be one of those stories where a fresh start turns into a breakout year.
Sometimes, the next big thing isn’t the guy you draft - it’s the one already grinding behind the scenes, waiting for his shot.