The Green Bay Packers don’t need a full-blown overhaul. They need a jolt in the backfield.
With the trade deadline getting closer, Tony Pollard looks like the kind of move that could quietly change the shape of Matt LaFleur’s offense. The Tennessee Titans running back brings burst, receiving ability, and enough track record to make a real difference for a Green Bay team that has leaned too heavily on Jordan Love through the first seven weeks.
That burden has been obvious in the record. The Packers sit at 4-3 after a start that has gone all over the map: a loss to Minnesota, narrow win over the New York Jets, home defeat to Atlanta, then victories over Tampa Bay, Chicago, and Dallas. Their three-game winning streak ended with a 20-17 loss to Detroit, a game in which Green Bay had chances and couldn’t finish.
The biggest issue, though, has been the run game. Through seven games, the Packers averaged fewer than 60 rushing yards per game, which has left Love and the passing attack carrying too much of the load.
Josh Jacobs returned against Detroit, but his 36 yards on 11 carries didn’t solve much. Injuries on the offensive line have only made the problem more pronounced.
Pollard would give Green Bay something it does not have enough of right now: reliable explosiveness. Through seven games in 2026, the 29-year-old has 478 rushing yards, a 4.3-yard average, and four rushing touchdowns. His latest outing made the case even clearer, as he ran for 129 yards and three scores against Cleveland.
That kind of production gives the Titans a decision to make. Tennessee is 1-6 and staring at hard questions about where it’s headed.
If the franchise decides to chase future draft capital, Pollard becomes a natural trade chip. That would also keep the price from getting out of hand for a Green Bay team that should be interested, but not reckless.
The suggested framework is straightforward: a 2027 fourth-round pick and a conditional 2028 sixth-round pick for Pollard, with the later selection rising to a fifth if he hits an agreed-upon rushing or scrimmage-yardage mark. It’s the kind of deal that gives Tennessee something useful down the road without forcing the Packers to give up a premium asset for a half-season rental.
That matters because Pollard is not being asked to carry the entire offense. He would slot in alongside Jacobs, giving Green Bay a more flexible rotation. Jacobs can still handle a major chunk of the workload, while Pollard would bring a different pace and more value in the passing game.
LaFleur’s offense works best when defenses have to respect the run from more than one angle. Pollard’s acceleration and vision would give Green Bay another way to attack the edges and turn small openings into bigger gains. He can also catch the ball out of the backfield, which would open up more screens, swings, and option routes.
For Love, that kind of balance matters. A more credible ground threat can slow pass rushers down and create cleaner play-action looks.
Pollard alone won’t fix everything, and no running back can rescue an offensive line by himself. Green Bay still has to get healthier up front and clean up its blocking.
But this is exactly the kind of move that makes sense for a team sitting above .500 with a clear weakness. The Packers are not in panic mode. They’re in position to address a problem before it grows teeth.
A fourth-rounder and a conditional late-round pick would be a disciplined price for Pollard. If Tennessee is ready to think about 2027, Brian Gutekunst should pick up the phone.
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Packers Are Putting Too Much On Jordan Love Right Now
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Love offered a similar view after Green Bays loss to the Detroit Lions, saying the run game needs to improve and expressing optimism about what Josh Jacobs can bring after his first appearance of the season. For a Packers offense still searching for rhythm, Jacobs return matters because it could give Love more balance and take some of the burden off his shoulders. [Read more 🡒]