Undrafted NFL Free Agents 2012: Forsaken Stars That Will Make an Instant Impact

Every year, 32 scouting teams blow it.

Whether for injuries, character concerns or simply a perceived lack of talent, future NFL stars fall through the cracks in every single draft. It isn’t even like they were late-round fliers—all 32 teams passed on them seven times.

Despite being forgotten men, the following players will make an instant impact on the lucky football teams that signed them as undrafted free agents.

3. Cliff Harris (CB, Oregon)

The Philadelphia Eagles reeled in the cream of the crop of unrestricted free agents  last summer. This year is no different.

Scouts once labeled the dynamic Harris as a first-round prospect. The talented half-cornerback, half-return ace didn’t hold on to that projection long, though. After being kicked off the Oregon football team, his stock plummeted.

And the Eagles will reap the benefits of his off-the-field indiscretions. Asante Samuel is now an Atlanta Falcon. Harris is in position to compete with Brandon Boykin and Curtis Marsh for the nickelback or dime back job.

2. Gerell Robinson (WR, Arizona State)

Peyton Manning has to be asking himself, “Why did I come here again?” Despite it being one of their most pressing needs, the Denver Broncos failed to select a single wideout in the draft.

Manning now has a receiving corps of Demaryius Thomas, Eric Decker, Andre Caldwell, Brandon Stokley and Jason Hill to throw to.

The 6’3”, 227-pound Robinson won’t have much trouble finding the field right away as a fourth or fifth wide receiver in what’s sure to be a pass-happy offense.

1. Chris Polk (RB, Washington)

Philadelphia hit the jackpot last season, agreeing to terms with halfbacks Noel Devine, Derrick Locke and Graig Cooper following the draft. A once-crowded backfield thinned out, but it is now jam-packed again.

Not only did the Eagles select Kansas State’s Bryce Brown, they also snatched up Polk, who scouts projected would go off the board in the second or third round. His fall stemmed from concerns surrounding his shoulder injury history. Polk will be forced to compete, but he's talented enough to wrestle the role of LeSean McCoy’s backup away from Brown, Cooper and Dion Lewis.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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