NFL Free Agency: Tony Pollard to sign with the Titans.
So much for RBs not getting paid in the year 2024: The Titans have signed former Cowboys RB Tony Pollard to a three-year deal worth up to $24 million.
While the guaranteed money involved will certainly be less, this is still one of the larger contracts handed out to an RB in free agency over the past decade. Specifically, the biggest free-agent contracts among RBs who changed teams since 2016 are as follows:
- Le'Veon Bell (NYJ): 4 years, $52.5M
- Chris Ivory (JAX): 5 years, $32M
- Jerick McKinnon (SF): 4 years, $30M
- Lamar Miller (HOU): 4 years, $26M
- Miles Sanders (CAR): 4 years, $25.4M
- D'Andre Swift (CHI): 3 years, $24M
- Pollard (TEN): 3 years, $24M
Obviously, most of those didn’t exactly work out!
The grass is seldom greener on the other side of free agency, especially at a position that ages worse than pretty much any other. And yet, the Cowboys, Giants and Vikings were also apparently interested in acquiring Pollard’s services on the open market.
The landing spot in Tennessee comes as a bit of a surprise considering the Titans weren't willing to keep Derrick Henry around. Still, it wasn't that long ago that Pollard was one of the game’s single-best RBs at creating yards after contact and ripping off explosive runs.
Last season he at least proved capable of handling a career-high 307 touches and played in all 18 of the Cowboys’ regular season and playoff games. No RB scored more PPR points per game BELOW expected (-53.2) than Pollard last season, meaning he 1.) Sucked, and/or 2.) Was really unlucky.
Folks hoping the latter statement was more true can find solace in the fact that Pollard did indeed improve starting in Week 11 last season when he stated he finally felt fully healthy:
- Weeks 1-10: 3.9 yards per carry, 2.7 yards after contact per carry, 7.4% explosive run play rate, 0.93 yards per route run, PFF’s No. 39 graded rusher
- Weeks 11-WC: 4 yards per carry, 3 yards after contact per carry, 9% explosive run play rate, 0.64 yards per route run, PFF’s No. 1 graded rusher
Then again, peep those numbers: Nothing really improved all that dramatically other than Pollard’s PFF rushing grade. There’s something to be said about him perhaps getting better with his reads as the season went on; either way, we certainly didn’t see the veteran regain pre-2023 form down the stretch.
Ultimately, both Tyjae Spears (RB18 Underdog ADP) and Pollard (RB22) will likely struggle to find a spot inside the position's top 24 options ahead of 2024. Pollard should absolutely be prioritized – remember the new Titans staff didn’t draft Spears – but the likelihood for a committee inside of an unproven offense with PFF's reigning 32nd-ranked offensive line simply isn't all that appealing.
EXTREME high-end efficiency will likely be needed for either to make up for the expected lack of elite volume and scoring opportunities at hand. An injury to the other could perhaps open up more of a featured role, but new Titans head coach Brian Callahan also proved more than willing to keep multiple backs involved during his time leading the Cincy offense.
Good for Pollard on getting some serious cheddar – he should absolutely be expected to fill the “Joe Mixon” lead-back role in Callahan’s offense. Still, in terms of his and Spears’ fantasy value: This is a downgrade – particularly if second-year QB Will Levis struggles to improve the league’s reigning 27th-ranked scoring offense.
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