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Polk is toast, right?

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Ja'Lynn Polk is toast, right?

  • Polk is toast; no way he make this roster

    Votes: 32 39.5%
  • Polk will make the roster

    Votes: 1 1.2%
  • Polk will start on IR, return to the roster later

    Votes: 6 7.4%
  • Polk will spend the entire season on IR (or be waived w/injury settlement)

    Votes: 29 35.8%
  • Polk will contemplate how and why RLKAG

    Votes: 13 16.0%

  • Total voters
    81
  • Poll closed .
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Polk probably would have some worth in a trade, but it would be damaged right now because he is hurt. So a team that might've sent a 4th, might now only send a 5th or 6th because he's injured. At that point, you may be better off just putting him on IR. If you make him one of the two "cutdown day" IR-DTR guys then he can come back midseason without taking up a spot on the 53 for a day.

That said, you don't know if he will be needed by then either. They could optionally just IR him now before cutdown day, use their two IR-DTR spots on other guys, and let him study the playbook all season and get ready for 2026. Two of their WRs likely to be on the 53 this year are in their 30s so there's still a need to continue developing young WRs.

The fact that they have not yet IRed him though gives me the impression that he is a somewhat likely IR-DTR candidate.
If someone offers a 5th for him you make sure the paperwork is done before they hang up the phone and don't give them a chance to change their minds.

He's shellshocked. He had too many things go wrong early, too many that went almost right but didn't. It got to his head and it was so obvoius even Mayo could see it.
 
My understanding is that his cost would actually decrease if placed on IR, as a player will not receive their full annual salary if they are placed on IR before game 1. However.... the difference is most likely negligible.

I could be mistaken but as I understand it rookie contracts are fully guaranteed against football related injury. Polk on IR does not count against the roster but his cap hit does
 
I said myself Polk is going down the same Bust road as the guys before him.. Harry, Tyquan for example. He'll be on IR this season likely...
Teakwood has a serious shot at making the KC 53.
 
My understanding is that his cost would actually decrease if placed on IR, as a player will not receive their full annual salary if they are placed on IR before game 1. However.... the difference is most likely negligible.
It depends on how their contract is structured. Some players, including I believe all UDFAs, have "split salary" contracts that dictate they receive less while on an inactive list. But this is not required: as an example, Junior Seau [RIP] originally had such a clause, but Belichick removed it.
 
It depends on how their contract is structured. Some players, including I believe all UDFAs, have "split salary" contracts that dictate they receive less while on an inactive list. But this is not required: as an example, Junior Seau [RIP] originally had such a clause, but Belichick removed it.

Polk is on a rookie contract. The full guarantee language in them is part of the CBA
 
He's hurt, and before he got hurt he wasn't turning any heads. The wide receiver room is crowded already. Baker and Chism are starting to show up. I'd put his chances of making the 53 at exactly zero. Am I wrong?
He was toast last season. With toast, you can scrape off the burnt part and still have it for breakfast.

This season Polk is baked beyond salvage. No team is going to trade anything for him.
 
If he's injury is more serious, I'd do a settlement to cut him now. The only good thing about the NFL right now is they aren't afraid anymore to cut players they know can't play. The "let's see how does by year 3" days are over. It's been a plug and play league (especially for WR's) for quite some time now. Either you have it or you don't.
 
Yes, Polk will not be on the 53. I don't care if they keep him on the PS (can't see anyone claiming him)
Baker has much more upside at this point.
I was a huge supporter of Bourne, but now I don't know what they do. It'd be hard to trust Diggs, Williams & Baker/Chism as half of your WR corp. We just don't know how Diggs will work, whether health-wise or mentally.
We know what we'll get from Pop, Boutte & Hollins, but it'd be nice to have a stable guy like Bourne to help lead the mental & emotional side of that room.
 
I could be mistaken but as I understand it rookie contracts are fully guaranteed against football related injury. Polk on IR does not count against the roster but his cap hit does
I didn't think about that, you are likely correct.
 
I didn't think about that, you are likely correct.

There's just precious little wiggle room in rookie contract language, that went out the window when the slotted contracts came through the door
 
If he's injury is more serious, I'd do a settlement to cut him now. The only good thing about the NFL right now is they aren't afraid anymore to cut players they know can't play. The "let's see how does by year 3" days are over. It's been a plug and play league (especially for WR's) for quite some time now. Either you have it or you don't.
IMO, because a couple of the Pats' WRs on the 53 this year are over 32 years old, it makes some sense to hold him on IR for a year to guard against these older guys falling off. Let's say Hollins loses a step by the end of the year, they can cut him in favor of Polk in 2026 and save $4M in cap.
 
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