Saints' Ja'Lynn Polk Retires from NFL at Age 24, WR Was Patriots' 2nd-Round Draft Pick in 2024

Wideout Ja'Lynn Polk has retired from the NFL and the New Orleans Saints placed him on the reserve/retired list Sunday, according to NFL reporter Mike Triplett.

As Triplett noted, the move came as a surprise given that Polk "participated throughout the entire offseason up until he was absent Friday."

NFL reporter Nick Underhill offered more details on Polk's decision:

The 24-year-old was a second-round pick of the New England Patriots at the 2024 NFL draft but didn't make much of an impact as a rookie, registering 12 catches for 87 yards and two touchdowns.

The Pats then traded him and a seventh-rounder to the Saints for a sixth-round pick in Sept. 2025, but he didn't play at all last season due to a shoulder injury.

Chris Olave is the main man in New Orleans' passing attack, but a number of players have the chance to carve out a significant role behind him, including first-round pick Jordyn Tyson, Devaughn Vele and rookies Bryce Lance and Barion Brown. Polk was set to be among the players looking to find his niche in New Orleans before Sunday's surprising news.