Patriots trade Ja’Lynn Polk to the Saints in a swap of future picks, with Polk slated to join New Orleans while on injured reserve. The deal sends a 2027 sixth-round pick to New England and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Saints, highlighting how teams value future assets even when a player is sidelined.

The Saints stash Polk, taking on over $2 million guaranteed over 2026-27, suggesting they see upside if he recovers and yields a return. The move also signals New England’s WR-room retooling after 2024 draftees while Javon Baker shifts to the Eagles’ practice squad, underscoring a reshaped depth chart for 2025 fantasy rosters.

The Eagles worked out Brenden Rice, Jerry Rice’s son, aiming to add WR depth behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith after the Chargers waived him. Rice’s USC production suggests upside as a reserve, though his pro-grade burst and press-man separation are questions.

Philly’s ongoing WR evaluations signal a broader search for competition and depth in a room that could lean on schedule-driven opportunities. If Rice makes the roster, he’d be a back-end lottery ticket with upside in a favorable offense and a path through special teams to a larger role if development accelerates.

New England pivoted aggressively in the WR room, waiving Javon Baker a day after the 53-man cutdowns as Week 1 looms. Baker, a 2024 fourth-round pick from UCF, had earned a roster spot in a crowded group but now faces waivers and potential practice-squad duties. Kendrick Bourne followed, asking for free agency and being released, further trimming the room to six receivers. Baker’s fate hinges on waiver results; if unclaimed, he could return to NE’s practice squad and wait for a chance to jump back into action.

Drake Maye remains the rookie signal-caller in the mix, with the Patriots' receiver landscape unsettled as they navigate cohesion with a still-developing offense. If Baker clears waivers, the Patriots’ depth could shift again as the market forgives a bid on a young pass-catcher; if not, the door stays open for other teams to pounce. Stay tuned for the next moves in this evolving Patriots WR picture.

Kendrick Bourne was released by the New England Patriots after missing fall camp with a foot injury in a crowded receiver corps. Bourne, who joined NE in 2021 after San Francisco, owns 3,714 yards on 292 receptions in his NFL tenure. NE had explored a trade before waiving him. In 2024, Bourne appeared in 12 games (nine starts) with 28 receptions, 305 yards and a single TD. On cutoff day, NE kept eight WRs, elevating Javon Baker and undrafted rookie Efton Chism III, signaling a youth-forward approach at wideout.

New England’s final preseason game devolved into a glass‑empty showcase as the Patriots were routed 42‑10 by the Giants. With starters rested, the night belonged to the depth chart, and the results underscored how precarious a number of roster spots may be come cut day. Kyle Dugger remained a stabilizing presence on defense, snagging an interception and flashing playmaking tendencies, while Keion White struggled to impact the game from the edge, signaling the uphill climb ahead for continued development.

Andres Borregales’s 49‑yard try misfired, intensifying the kicker competition with veteran Romo looming as the more reliable option. Jeremiah Webb delivered a spark with a 22‑yard punt return and a 10‑yard TD grab, keeping him in the practice‑squad conversation, but Javon Baker and Miles Battle faced rough nights, and rookie Jordan Polk drew penalties that blemished his evaluation. Veteran Jack Gibbens chipped in a sack, providing a sliver of upside from the linebacker room, while Ben Wooldridge showed the growing pains of a rookie QB, including a late third‑quarter turnover that capped a wobbly performance.

Fantasy relevance centers on the Patriots’ depth chart: Webb’s return skills and the Dugger‑led defensive backfield present points of interest for dynasty‑level nerves; the Borregales vs Romo kicker duel remains an ongoing subplot for early season fantasy rosters. The Giants’ execution in the blowout victory also offered a reminder that even in preseason, a favorable defensive matchup and solid special‑teams play can tilt the edge in late‑season streaming scenarios. The result reinforces the looming roster decisions heading into next week’s cuts, with several players seemingly on the bubble.