The Tennessee Titans made a bold move in the offseason by signing running back Tony Pollard to their roster. Pollard, a dynamic playmaker from the Dallas Cowboys, brings speed and versatility to the Titans' backfield. With his ability to run between the tackles and catch passes out of the backfield, Pollard adds a new dimension to the Titans' offense.
The signing of Pollard also provides insurance for star running back Derrick Henry, who has been dealing with injuries in recent seasons. Having a reliable backup like Pollard gives the Titans peace of mind knowing they have depth at the running back position.
The first big move came by replacing Henry with Pollard. He and the Titans agreed to a $24 million, three-year contract, a person familiar with the deal told the AP.
The Titans also worked to shore up their secondary and bulk up the middle of the offensive line.
They agreed with Cincinnati cornerback Chidobe Awuzie on a three-year deal for $36 million with $23 million guaranteed, another person familiar with that contract told AP. Denver center Lloyd Cushenberry agreed to a four-year deal for $50 million with $26 million guaranteed, another person familiar with that deal confirmed to AP
Although, if any active running back is capable of staving off the inevitable cliff all players at the position tend to hit after nearly a decade in the league, it is Henry. He has been the model of consistency in terms of durability and production, having appeared in at least 15 games, rushed for over 1,000 yards, and scored double-digit touchdowns in five of the last six seasons. In the one year he failed to meet just half those totals, he still rushed for 937 yards and 10 touchdowns in just eight regular season games in 2021, when he suffered a foot injury that put him out of commission until the playoffs.
In 2023, Henry finished first in the league in carries (280), second in rushing yards (1,167) and tied for the fifth-most rushing touchdowns (12). He can still be highly productive until proven otherwise and would be a steal at the rumored average annual salary Stainbrook is reporting.
It's fair to wonder how Pollard will do in the 2024 season. The pessimist's point of view says Pollard may never be the back he once was before suffering a broken ankle. On the flip side, Pollard just posted over 300 touches over 17 games less than a year removed from a serious injury. An offseason focused on gearing up for next year as opposed to rehabbing an old injury could be beneficial, of course.
Ultimately, Tennessee hopes Pollard can produce a season more akin to his 2022 results. Still, he's engineered an impressive comeback after a devastating leg injury and can certainly be a featured back once again.
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