Chris

Polk

The Polk camp believes its client has a chance to be drafted in the first round, but Trent Richardson is the only back guaranteed of going on day one. Polk could be a reasonable option for the Packers at No. 59. Polk is Rotoworld draft guru Josh Norris’ third-ranked back behind Richardson and Doug Martin.

Considered a day-two prospect in many circles, Polk was perhaps the draft’s most surprising undrafted free agent. Teams were apparently much more concerned about his history of shoulder issues than previously thought. Polk is a potential steal for a team with an opening behind LeSean McCoy, as he possesses three-down skills. If Polk can make it through camp healthy and earn a 53-man roster spot, he’ll be someone to monitor in deeper PPR leagues.

The Eagles like Dion Lewis, Chris Polk, and Bryce Brown behind McCoy. “We feel really good about that spot,” Roseman said. “That doesn’t mean that if something was there that made sense we still wouldn’t look to add there, but we feel really good about them.” This, despite coach Andy Reid’s plan to lighten McCoy’s workload. Look for Lewis to be Philadelphia’s primary backup.

One NFL personnel source told The Sideline View’s Adam Caplan that Polk compares to Pierre Thomas “in body type and style of play.” Like Polk, Thomas originally went undrafted. Polk’s biggest asset is his receiving ability, and he absolutely would have been a middle-round pick if not for medical worry. We like Polk’s chances of winning a job behind LeSean McCoy and Dion Lewis.

Brown has a few pounds on Polk and is an inch taller, so it’s not good news for Polk’s stock after he unexpectedly went undrafted. Polk is a more polished player than Brown, but it may be telling that Philly saw fit to spend a pick on Brown and not Polk. If Polk can prove he’s healthy, however, he may have a leg up on Brown as they fight for what may be the same roster spot.

Polk was 224 in Mobile, but explained in his Saturday media interview that he didn’t like the way he looked after trying to put on postseason pounds in an effort to show teams he’s an “every-down back.” NFL clubs want burst in a running back first and foremost, anyway, and Polk’s forty time should improve. Running backs will jump and run on Sunday in Indianapolis.

His “official” time was 4.57. Polk laid to rest concerns about his weight (215 pounds) earlier in the week, and showed respectable speed on the track. While Polk’s short-area burst leaves something to be desired, he draws high marks for vision and the ability to stay north-south in traffic. He’s a second-round prospect, despite generating mixed reviews during Senior Bowl week.

It’s beginning to look more and more like the Lions will target a second- or third-round running back following Mikel Leshoure’s twin marijuana arrests in February and March. Per the Detroit News, there’s “no doubt” the Lions are also intrigued by Oregon’s LaMichael James -- and perhaps Boise State’s Doug Martin as well.

Compare that to Polk’s official 4.57 time from the Combine and the running back is steadily improving. He has also dropped 13 pounds since the eye-opening Senior Bowl weigh-in and three more since the Combine. In addition, Polk completed 16 bench press reps. Polk’s game tape is second-round caliber and he is answering the speed and weight concerns that surfaced in Mobile.

Polk’s stock seems to be rising, as many analysts consider him a potential three-down back with good pass-catching skills and an ability to run between the tackles. The Bengals would likely need to use one of their day-two selections to acquire the former Husky. If drafted, he’d be in competition for snaps with the underwhelming trio that is BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Bernard Scott, and Brian Leonard, which would give Polk some sleeper appeal in redraft formats.