The Tennessee Titans may be saying Tony Pollard isn’t going anywhere, but that hasn’t completely shut the door on the conversation.
Adam Schefter reported today, while in the middle of some push-ups, that the Titans “outright won’t be trading RB Tony Pollard.” That has cooled the buzz around the veteran back, who at one point looked like Tennessee’s top trade chip. Now he appears to be in a far safer spot.
Still, the Titans have already shown they’re willing to listen when the right offer lands. Jeffery Simmons once seemed locked in place too, until the Chicago Bears came forward with an undeniable package. Tennessee also turned away interest from the New York Giants for Simmons, a situation best left where it is.
That history raises the obvious question: could Pollard draw something similar if the offer is strong enough?
The answer probably isn’t a haul built around two first-round picks. That kind of return is not happening for Pollard. But this is a rebuilding roster, and the bar doesn’t have to be that high for Tennessee to at least consider moving him.
The biggest argument against dealing him is simple. Even if the rest of the season goes a certain way, Pollard is likely headed for a major free-agent payday, and the Titans probably won’t be the team to keep him. For now, they’re holding onto him because his steadiness in the backfield gives Cam Ward a dependable offensive floor.
If Simmons can be moved at the right price, Pollard can be too.
A fourth-round pick by itself might not be enough. Add another later selection, and the discussion gets more interesting.
A third-rounder could also get Tennessee’s attention. And if a team believes Pollard would re-sign and badly needs backfield help, a second-round pick would almost certainly push the Titans into serious decision-making territory.
That said, a second-rounder feels like a long shot. The running back market is active, though, and several teams are dealing with injuries at the position, including the Arizona Cardinals, the Miami Dolphins, the Houston Texans, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Giants.
So while Schefter’s report makes a Pollard trade unlikely, it doesn’t make it impossible. Tennessee would have to think hard about anything above a fourth-rounder, or a bundled package of picks.
And until Tuesday’s deadline buzzer sounds, Titans fans probably shouldn’t rule anything out. One-win teams are among the easiest to persuade.
In Other News...
Titans Have One Trade Deadline Decision Fans Will Be Watching Closely
The Titans bye week arrives with the trade deadline looming, and the roster picture is starting to come into focus. Calvin Ridley appears to be the name drawing the most attention, with reports suggesting Tennessee is likely to move on from the veteran wide receiver as he no longer fits the offenses plans. Even if the return is modest, the possibility of getting something back for a player who seems outside the long-term picture has made Ridley the most obvious storyline in Nashville this week.
Tony Pollard, meanwhile, looks far less likely to be part of any deadline churn. The Titans are reportedly not interested in moving the running back, and other possible trade candidates also appear unlikely to be dealt before the deadline passes. So while fans may be watching for a flurry of activity, the more realistic question is whether Tennessee makes one clean move or simply uses the week to quietly sort out the future of a roster that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Jaguars Face A Brian Thomas Jr Decision Fans Wont Ignore
With the trade deadline approaching, the rumor mill is starting to pick up around the AFC South, and the Jaguars have one of the names drawing attention. Brian Thomas Jr. has been mentioned in the same breath as a handful of other players who could factor into deadline chatter, a list that also includes veterans and established playmakers from around the league as teams weigh whether to add, subtract or stand pat.
For Tennessee, any movement involving Jacksonville matters because the division race is always shaped by what happens inside it, not just outside it. The Colts are reportedly holding off on any Daniel Jones discussions until after their next game, which is another reminder that these talks can move slowly before they move fast, and the same could be true for the Jaguars as the deadline nears and teams sort through interest in players like Thomas, Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley. [Read more 🡒]