New England Patriots - NESN.com
While fans and media members speculate which receivers the Patriots will target this offseason, Drake Maye’s focus is on the roster.
The Patriots quarterback joined the “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast last week and named two younger players he hopes will step up in 2025.
“We brought in two rookie receivers, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, that were feeling it out this year,” Maye told Long. “They both battled some injuries. But hopefully expecting one of them — if not both — to make a splash this year.”
Polk and Baker, who were drafted in the second and fourth round, respectively, underwhelmed during their rookie campaigns. Polk finished with 12 receptions on 33 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games (seven starts). Baker caught one pass for 12 yards in 11 games, but rarely saw the field on offense.
Maye shouldered some responsibility and said he’s taking it upon himself to get those guys more involved.
“They’re receivers, and quarterback-receivers, it’s my job to get them the football,” Maye said. “But also, I think it’s their job, and they know, to get their stuff together. Get to lifting hard, and running hard, and practicing hard. There’s a different way to practice in the NFL. It takes something off your body, but you’re still expected to be full speed, expected to be in the right spot, expected to line up right.
“So I think getting in the groove of that and getting in the groove of NFL life was different for all of us rookies.”
Polk and Baker likely will have more competition the next time they walk into the receiver room in Foxboro, Mass. With that, they’ll need to perform much better this summer in order to have an opportunity to “make a splash” with Maye next season.
