The Giants may have Jonathan Taylor on the radar, but Tony Pollard is making a loud case to be the smarter swing.
Taylor remains the headline name in this trade-deadline conversation. He’s the kind of back who can change a team’s ceiling in a hurry, and the Colts’ willingness to move pieces has only fueled the speculation. But while New York keeps one eye on Indianapolis, Pollard has been busy forcing his way into the picture from Tennessee.
The Titans are 1-7 and headed nowhere fast, which makes Pollard a natural name to watch as the Nov. 10 deadline approaches. He backed that up Sunday in a wild 43-36 overtime loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, piling up 117 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries while adding 20 yards on three catches. It was his second straight huge performance, and the timing could hardly be better for a player trying to catch the eye of contenders.
Pollard has been on a tear over the last two games, and the production has been more than just empty volume. Among 69 running backs with at least five carries over that span, he’s been near the top in key categories, according to Pro Football Focus ($).
He’s also done it without leaning on splash plays, with just six runs of 10-plus yards across those two games. The former Cowboy has kept the chains moving and has looked like the engine of a Titans offense that has scored 60 points in back-to-back losses.
That’s why Pollard may actually make more sense for the Giants than Taylor if both paths are available. New York’s interest in Taylor says plenty about where the franchise is right now, but the cost could be steep. The Colts have already rejected an offer that included a 2027 second-round pick “plus an additional pick,” according to The Ringer’s Tom Pelissero, which means it would take a major package to get a deal done.
For a Giants team that doesn’t have much draft capital to spare, that’s a tough ask for a non-premium position. Pollard, by contrast, should come much cheaper.
He turns 30 this offseason, is on an expiring contract, and would give Tennessee a chance to get something back for a player who doesn’t appear to be part of its future beyond 2026. For New York, that could mean a useful rental without the kind of long-term cost that comes with chasing Taylor.
There’s also the fact that the Giants have already shown they’re willing to work the phones with Tennessee. Head coach John Harbaugh has already gone out of his way to negotiate with the Titans. He about Jeffery Simmons' availability before the standout defensive tackle was sent to the Chicago Bears.
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