Patriots

Patriots rookie receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker already forming bond

“It’s pretty cool for us to end up together here and be with each other again."

Ja'Lynn Polk will be catching passes from Drake Maye, but he's also formed a strong relationship with one of his fellow receivers.

By Conor Roche

May 12, 2024

The Patriots selected wide receivers Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker in the second and fourth rounds, respectively, of the 2024 NFL Draft to give Drake Maye some help.

Before they help out their new quarterback though, the receivers have been giving each other a hand. Polk and Baker trained together in Florida leading up to the draft, becoming familiar with each other as they played college football on opposite ends of the country (Polk played at Washington, Baker played at UCF).

Two weeks after both were drafted by the Patriots, Polk shared with reporters at Saturday’s rookie minicamp that he was excited to be working with Baker again

“It’s pretty cool for us to end up together here and be with each other again,” Polk said. “A great receiver, a dominant player, very confident player. He knows exactly what he’s able to do and what he’s going to be able to do out there on the field.”

Baker already showed off that confidence in his first meeting with the media after New England drafted him. When asked what Patriots fans should expect from him, Baker replied, “I make people in wheelchairs stand up. Bring your popcorn.”

But Baker also told reporters that day he and Polk already had “a connection going on,” adding that he, Polk, and Maye were going to be “bringing back the winning mentality that everybody likes in Boston.”

Polk and Baker have continued that connection in their early days in Foxborough, sharing 13-hour days together at the Patriots facility for rookie minicamp.

“Me and Javon, after we finish everything, we’ll get our food and before we go to the hotel … we’ll go in there, catch jugs, one of the equipment guys will go in there with us,” Polk said. “We try to find our routine and schedule and be the best we can be, lead the guys in the room and us to feed off the vets and be able to pick their brains and the things they do. It’s exciting to be part of something like this.”

The result of the early bond between Polk and Baker has already caught Maye’s attention, with both receivers making plays in rookie minicamp.

“They look good,” Maye said. “They made some plays in 7-on-7, I threw a couple behind them, and they still made the catches. I don’t know if we’ve had one on the ground yet, knock on wood. That’s the goal out here: come out here, routes on air, and be 100%. Those guys are going to be some special players.”

Sixth-round pick Marcellas Dial, who was the only defensive player the Patriots selected in the draft, has also been impressed by Polk and Baker.

“They’re two explosive guys that play with a chip on their shoulder,” Dial said after practice. “Going up against them, you can tell they know what they’re doing.”

While Polk and Baker’s bond garnered attention at the Patriots’ rookie minicamp, much of the focus continues to be on the quarterback who’s throwing the ball to them.

Polk seems to know that.

“This is the guy right here,” Polk said to reporters as he was pointing at Maye.