NFL Network highlights Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk as an NFL draft riser

Washington’s Ja’Lynn Polk is seeing his name rise up boards as the NFL draft approaches.

With the NFL draft less than three weeks away, the class of wide receivers continues to establish itself as arguably the best in recent memory, with Rome Odunze, Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., and LSU’s Malik Nabers all projected to hear their names called inside the top 10.

However, Odunze’s running mate Ja’Lynn Polk has been a hot name among NFL general managers in recent weeks according to NFL Network’s Peter Schrager.

“If you watch Washington, and I spoke to a coach about this, it feels like in big spots that Polk was their guy,” Schrager said on Friday. “What Michael Penix Jr. and Polk had last year was truly special, connecting for 9 touchdowns last season.”

Projected by most media outlets as a second-round pick, Polk is a sure-handed pass catcher who has flown under the radar in a star-studded receiver class. With as many as five or six potentially slated to be taken in the first round, Polk’s stock could continue to rise to toward the top of the second round.

Polk also has an extremely high floor thanks to his ability to hold on to tough catches over the middle of the field and ability to run a full route tree.

While evaluators have been drawn to the upside of Texas‘ AD Mitchell and athleticism of Florida’s Ricky Pearsall in the same range, Polk’s high IQ and ability to line up anywhere in the formation could lead to him outproducing both at the next level.