Polk & Baker revival.

[Dec54]

Do you still put cookies out for Santa and carrots for Rudolph?

Note: McDaniels will utilize same secret sauce he used on N'Keal Harry.

Yep every year, are you saying you don't. Shame on you!

 

[Real fan 02]

I'll go easy on you as I'm still on my first cup of coffee...

The main difference this year is they'll be in a structured program, better coached, and the quality of QB is much higher.

They have a clean slate.

And accountability will be surely a thing here. You've already seen my take on Polk and Baker.. these guys have talent and can succeed in the right circumstances.. the offense is so desperately needing play makers any way possible. Remember David givens struggled his first season and redeemed himself his next season.

 

[Real fan 02]

Adams is a very bad example. He was fine in his first few years with one game shredding the Pats his rookie year. He was buried on the depth chart which had two Pro Bowl/All Pro’s in Nelson and Cobb and Rodgers’ favorite in James Jones. Once Cobb and then Nelson started slowing down was when Adam’s took over.

Polk and Baker on the other hand, have absolutely nobody standing in their way.

As a 2nd rounder from Fresno state.. he dropped alot of passes early on. But to your point he became a great player in GB and had a wonderful connection with Rodgers.

Polk and baker have all the runway to take off..

 

[Tunescribe]

The WR room right now:

1. Kayshon Boutte
2. DeMario Douglas
3. Kendrick Bourne
4. Mack Hollins
5. Ja’Lynn Polk
6. Javon Baker

Safe to say the team has to be adding more WR competition over the course of this offseason and hopefully names that fit immediately at the top of the depth chart. Bourne is keeping the seat warm until that name emerges. If the season began today he’d be a starter by virtue of his resume and seniority with the team. He and Hollins are the only two WRs with previous experience with Josh McDaniels. Bourne was basically in 2021 what Boutte was in 2024, the best WR by default (Douglas’ counting stats were marginally better but he played two more games than Boutte). But Bourne is on notice because I think he’s the first to go unless there is an injury to someone else ahead of him.

One way or another there are likely to be four WR’s ahead of these two and they’ll have to earn their way onto the field. Polk needs to show himself as not just the WR they hoped for when they drafted him but more than that if he’s going to climb back into the rotation. Because he was taken in the early 2nd round he’s going to get more opportunities to prove himself, it would be wasteful not to give him an extended look. The same can’t be said for Baker, where WRs taken in the 4th round or later are always considered dart throws from the start and historically aren’t given as much leash as WRs taken earlier. Factoring in for some rookies or veteran additions, it’s hard to see Baker making the Week 1 roster. There would need to be multiple injuries ahead of him on the depth chart to buy him additional time.

Polk reportedly had a promising training camp, then went AWOL. Douglas excepted, the specter of unrealized potential hovers over everyone else in the WR room (including Bourne's return from injury).

While a large segment of the fan base has bailed on this bunch, perhaps the new coaching regime sees enough to work with absent signing a "name" free agent. And maybe they have an eye on someone in the draft or will nab a FA leftover later on. The bottom line, IMO, is the WR room remains far from settled and it's way, WAY too early to worry about things like Diggs leaving town without signing.

 

[RobertWeathers]

And accountability will be surely a thing here. You've already seen my take on Polk and Baker.. these guys have talent and can succeed in the right circumstances.. the offense is so desperately needing play makers any way possible. Remember David givens struggled his first season and redeemed himself his next season.

Not sure the Givens situation and the one with these two are the same.

Givens was a 7th rounder and make the team b/c of STs. He had the same coach. Same offense. Same QB year one and two. He needed to learn a ton and bust his ass. He did just that.

 

[State]

Polk shows he cares. Baker is a player other teams removed from their board for character concerns. The Giants, one such team, had a picture of their board make it to the Internet. They had removed Baker who, in his own mind, is going to be all pro.

But is he putting in the off-season work? That’s a tell.

Polk, yes. Baker, no.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Remember David givens struggled his first season and redeemed himself his next season.

Not sure the Givens situation and the one with these two are the same.

Givens was a 7th rounder and make the team b/c of STs. He had the same coach. Same offense. Same QB year one and two. He needed to learn a ton and bust his ass. He did just that.

The Pats could’ve easily cut ties with him after year 1 bring a 7th rounder. He also had an uphill battle with Branch taking over as Brady’s favorite target along with Patton and Brown as players he was familiar with.

Givens put in the work and leapfrogged Patton as the 2nd outside WR. He was one of my favorites during the first dynasty making some clutch catches outmuscling DB’s on the sidelines.

 

[Wozzy]

One of them might, both of them not likely, there’s a chance neither of them do.

The draft is a crapshoot….

 

[40yrpatsfan]

As things stand today, our WRs are Boutte, Douglas, Hollins, Polk, Baker, and Bourne, probably in that order. If we sign Diggs and take a WR in the 2nd round at 38, who gets cut? We'll probably keep 6 to open the season, and with Diggs starting on PUP that makes 7:
1. the draftee makes the 53
2. Hollins makes the 53
3. Douglas will make it
4. Boutte showed something last year and I think he makes it
5. Polk will probably improve, and is cheap. Similar skill set as Bourne.
6. Baker is probably our only deep threat at the moment, but very unproven.
7. when Diggs returns in Oct, we merry go round with IR's through the rest of the season

Bourne will be 30 by opening day and is fairly expensive at $5.5m. Otoh he should be his old self 2 years post-ACL, and I can see Josh & Drake wanting him around. Close call on Bourne. If he makes it then either Polk or Bake is out. I don't think his age matters, as Vrabel wants to make the playoffs this year.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Polk shows he cares. Baker is a player other teams removed from their board for character concerns. The Giants, one such team, had a picture of their board make it to the Internet. They had removed Baker who, in his own mind, is going to be all pro.

But is he putting in the off-season work? That’s a tell.

Polk, yes. Baker, no.

Vrabes has given Baker a clean slate but yea....he concerns me. Belligerent with cops, curfew, flashing guns, fights at Alabama.

I guess his dad is a overbearing wackjob...

 

[Real fan 02]

The Pats could’ve easily cut ties with him after year 1 bring a 7th rounder. He also had an uphill battle with Branch taking over as Brady’s favorite target along with Patton and Brown as players he was familiar with.

Givens put in the work and leapfrogged Patton as the 2nd outside WR. He was one of my favorites during the first dynasty making some clutch catches outmuscling DB’s on the sidelines.

Very true. But I remember some reporting around the time that he had some maturity issues to overcome as alot of players do. Givens hit the jugs machine stayed late with brady after practice, film and I remember him saying BB used to engrain that a WRs job is to catch the ball first and foremost. Patton and brown were more slot WRs.. branch and Givens were really the only 2 guys who could get deep quickly.. if you want to through bethel Johnson in there too..

But polk and baker have all the opportunity to take hold of thier careers and become contributing players..

 

[Real fan 02]

Vrabes has given Baker a clean slate but yea....he concerns me. Belligerent with cops, curfew, flashing guns, fights at Alabama.

I guess his dad is a overbearing wackjob...

Agreed. All fixable things. The maturation process begins now for him. A coach like Vrabel and Josh will give him everything he needs to succeed..

 

[Rob0729]

I don't know about breakout season. I am thinking you will see a significant year two jump from both. Will it be good enough for either to even get a decent amount of playing time? Who knows? But I think they were definitely hindered by poor coach and schemes last year.

I think Polk's biggest issue was his confidence was shattered because of it. That is concerning because that means he is a bit of a headcase, but he is also a WR and that comes with position. I think he could be decent if his confidence is restored.

I am hopeful that both will turn it around. I am not confident of it.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agreed. All fixable things. The maturation process begins now for him. A coach like Vrabel and Josh will give him everything he needs to succeed..

You are a lot more optimistic than I am. On the surface he seems like he's been protected and never had a day of accountability in his life.

 

[Real fan 02]

I don't know about breakout season. I am thinking you will see a significant year two jump from both. Will it be good enough for either to even get a decent amount of playing time? Who knows? But I think they were definitely hindered by poor coach and schemes last year.

I think Polk's biggest issue was his confidence was shattered because of it. That is concerning because that means he is a bit of a headcase, but he is also a WR and that comes with position. I think he could be decent if his confidence is restored.

I am hopeful that both will turn it around. I am not confident of it.

Agreed. Polk also was Injured more than anyone knew of.. with the shoulder..

Polk was the best WR all training camp.. I even mentioned it on the forum back then.. that Mayo's messaging is confusing.. meaning that Polk was the best WR all camp even drawing praises from gonzo but he didn't start in any preseason games.. that along Fs with a rookies physche. I like them both to show some promises this season.

 

[Real fan 02]

You are a lot more optimistic than I am. On the surface he seems like he's been protected and never had a day of accountability in his life.

What was he a 5th rounder or 4th?? I'm only saying that becuase we've seen this in many players all over the league. Either he gets it this season and going forward or he won't be in the league for long.

He is not a rookie anymore he's playing s man's game.. so man up and ball.

 

[RobertWeathers]

What was he a 5th rounder or 4th?? I'm only saying that becuase we've seen this in many players all over the league. Either he gets it this season and going forward or he won't be in the league for long.

He is not a rookie anymore he's playing s man's game.. so man up and ball.

4th. Many teams took him off their draft boards.

 

[Real fan 02]

4th. Many teams took him off their draft boards.

Okay thank you. Well.. in the words of a legendary coach last seen with his girl on the beach.. it is what it is....

 

[TommyD4207]

Call me wrong or stupid (and I dare say some will) But I think Polk and Baker are going to have a break out season in 2025. Better coaching, top QB, growing pains over. They were not dragged in off the street to play, both were very good collage players. But for what ever reason, they both really struggled to make the transition. But now things have changed and they have a chance to really show us how good they can be.

Let the abuse begin......

Sad your monthly Pickens thread got merged?

 

[KCSVEN]

I did a small analysis to see if a "second year jump" was a real thing. It does not bode well for Polk. Baker has more of a shot. However, the difference in coaching staff is night and day so Polk could be a rare outlier.

I only used PFF ratings because it was easy and did seem to have a correlation. I used 2022 and 2023 draft so I could track 3 years of changes in 2022 and 2 years in 2023. I did the top 33 picks each year.

33% of players jumped PFF score more than 10% from rookie to second year.
24% of players got 10% or more WORSE from rookie to second year.

The only players from 2022 draft that went up greater than 10% in year 2 and then got worse the 3rd year by 10% or more were injured players.

I have quite a bit of data on the 2 drafts but basically you are almost as likely to get worse from year 1 to year 2 as you are to get better though on average SLIGHTLY more players got better than worse.

Only 1 player in the 2 years (Devin Lloyd) went from below 50 PFF to above 70.

A quick summary on Polk and Baker:
Polk was so bad it is unlikely he gets good.
Baker had too few snaps to make a definitive judgement.

A second-year leap does happen for about 1/3 of players drafted in the top 33.

Tyler Guyton, based on this Matrix is the most likely first round bust.

Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers, and Brock Bowers are the 3 that are most likely to continue to be very good based on rookie year, barring injury.