The Broncos and Packers both went hunting for backfield help before Tuesday’s trade deadline, and both came up empty on the same name.
The target that drew the most attention was Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, but the asking price was steep enough to scare off multiple teams. The reported cost was roughly a first-round pick, or a package similar to the Christian McCaffery trade in 2022. Indianapolis, rather than moving Taylor for less, kept him in place for the benefit of its next general manager.
That left Tony Pollard as the other AFC South back to watch. According to Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter of ESPN, Denver and Green Bay both “checked in” on Pollard, but the Tennessee Titans were holding firm on a return of at least a third-round pick for the veteran runner.
Denver’s deadline plans also took another hit when a trade with the Los Angeles Chargers for inside linebacker Daiyan Henley fell apart after a failed physical. Green Bay, meanwhile, stood pat despite its own issues at running back, with Josh Jacobs set to miss time after having surgery on his finger on Friday.
Tennessee’s stance on Pollard stood out given where the team sits. The Titans are 1-7 and are preparing to face the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, yet they still weren’t willing to drop their price on a player in the final season of his contract and set to enter free agency in 2027.
Pollard had already made clear where he wanted to stay. On Oct. 30, the day after Tennessee sent defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears, he told The Tennessean that a move would be hard to take, pointing to his family.
“First of all, I would be shocked, a little disappointed,” Pollard said. “Just thinking about my family, my kids, my wife. “I would get used to it later, but it would hurt in the moment.”
Even with that preference, Pollard knew the possibility was real.
“I don’t really have social media,” he said. “That’s how I keep myself clear-minded from everything.
“You know personally where you want to be, what you want to do, but just seeing (rumors), it can kind of trigger you a little bit sometimes. That’s just all part of being professional. That comes with the territory.”
Pollard, 29, has run for 595 yards and six touchdowns on 133 carries this season, while also adding 70 receiving yards on 13 catches.
In Other News...
Jeffery Simmons Opens Up About Titans Move That Still Stings
Jeffery Simmons did not hide how much the move still lingers after Tennessee sent him to Chicago on Oct. 29 for two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, the former Titans star said he was surprised by the trade, but also made clear he understood the business side of it and respected the decision.
For Tennessee, the deal was as much about draft capital as it was about parting with one of the leagues most disruptive interior defenders. Simmons has wasted little time making an impact with the Bears, recording sacks in each of his first two games and leading all interior defensive linemen in sacks through Week 9, a reminder of exactly what the Titans gave up when they made the move. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Already Face A Big Question About Their Top Receiver Pick
The Titans used the No. 4 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on wide receiver Carnell Tate, then moved back into the first round to grab Auburn edge rusher Keldric Faulk, making it clear they wanted to leave the opening night of the draft with premium talent at premium spots. It was the kind of aggressive approach that can reshape a roster quickly, and it also put a spotlight on how Tennessee plans to build around its newest offensive centerpiece.
Tates arrival brings immediate intrigue because the conversation around him is not just about draft value, but about fit and what his early production could look like in Tennessees offense. The Titans also added other pieces in the class, and the comparisons being drawn to other rookie receiver starts only sharpen the scrutiny on whether Tate can justify being the headliner of the group. [Read more 🡒]
Titans Season Just Became A High-Stakes Draft Position Race
The Titans season has shifted into something bigger than wins and losses, with the trade deadline turning the rest of the year into a long look ahead. By moving defensive standouts Jeffery Simmons and Amani Hooker for multiple draft picks in 2027 and 2028, Tennessee made its intentions clear: the future matters more than salvaging a lost present, and the draft board is now part of every conversation around this team.
At 1-7, the Titans are already positioned for a premium selection in the 2027 NFL Draft, with the kind of draft capital that can reshape a roster if the front office plays it right. The intriguing part is where that pick could land and who might be available, including wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, even if receiver is not the clearest hole on the roster. For Tennessee, the real suspense is no longer about this seasons standings, but how high the draft race can carry them and what they do with the opportunity when it arrives. [Read more 🡒]