The Tennessee Titans made plenty of noise before the NFL trade deadline, but Tony Pollard was the one notable name who stayed put.
While Jeffery Simmons was sent to the Chicago Bears and Amani Hooker went to the Buffalo Bills, Pollard remained on the roster. The moves gave Mike Borgonzi four total picks, including two first-rounders for Simmons, plus an extra second-rounder for Hooker. Still, the decision not to move Pollard stood out because he’s in the final year of the three-year, $21.7 million deal he signed before the 2024 season.
Reports had suggested the Titans wanted to keep Pollard around, largely because he has been helping with the development and evaluation of Cam Ward. Those reports turned out to be accurate.
That leaves a bigger question hanging over Tennessee’s plans: if Pollard wasn’t dealt at the deadline, is a new contract coming next? He’s headed for unrestricted free agency, and the Titans’ choice to hold onto a 29-year-old running back on an expiring deal is at least worth a second look for a team in roster-building mode.
The market at running back has also shifted. Recent deals for Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Saquon Barkley have reset the top of the position, and they’re among four backs making more than $20 million per year, with Jonathan Taylor being the other. Pollard isn’t in that class, but those contracts still matter when it comes time to negotiate.
For Tennessee, the number that makes the most sense is a short-term commitment. A two-year extension would be the ceiling, and it would give the Titans some protection against paying for a back whose value could dip with age. A deal in the neighborhood of two years and $20 million feels like the cleanest fit.
That would put Pollard at $10 million annually, which would slot him in as the 16th-highest paid running back in the league, just behind Kyren Williams at $11 million per year. Other contract movement around the NFL could still change the landscape, but that range looks like the right place for Pollard if Tennessee decides to keep him beyond this season.
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Titans Just Opened A Long Term Question In The Secondary
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