The Detroit Lions have a lot of options early in the NFL Draft.
Under the supervision of general manager Brad Holmes, the Lions have assembled a team with few obvious gaps. However, the team’s depth can be improved in a number of ways.
The wide receiver position is one that might benefit from additional contributors. Amon-Ra St. Brown is one of the league’s finest slot receivers, and Jameson Williams appears to be on the cusp of a breakthrough in 2024.
However, the team may use another target for quarterback Jared Goff. One possible answer is Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk, who had a successful junior season before entering the NFL Draft.
Many observers, including Dane Brugler of The Athletic, believe Polk will be drafted on Day Two. Polk, according to Brugler’s Draft guide ‘The Beast,’ can adjust to throws 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.”
Polk set career highs in nearly every category last season. He caught 69 passes for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns for Washington, which lost the national championship game.
Polk committed to Texas Tech out of high school but transferred to Washington after his first season. The transfer paid off, as he gradually progressed over the next two seasons before breaking out in his third year.
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 does play a unique Air-Raid style, which isn’t always conducive to a player’s success in the NFL. Polk will need to continue building his route-tree, since he ran several deep routes with the Huskies.
Furthermore, Polk does not always use his physicality to counter press coverage. He can struggle in contested situations with downfield deep passes.
As a result, Polk could be an excellent fit for Detroit’s aesthetic. He’s a big-bodied target, towering 6-foot-1 and weighing 203 pounds. This type of build is exactly what the Lions are needing right now, as St. Brown suits the slot and Williams possesses speed.
Williams has been on an improving track since moving to Washington, and he is anticipated to push for a starting position straight away. With some practice in his route-running and physicality, he would be an ideal addition to Detroit’s jigsaw.
