Pulling off a trade for Jonathan Taylor was never going to be easy, and it might be time to end those dreams for good.
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Indianapolis Colts want a first-round pick or a package similar to the San Francisco 49ers' Christian McCaffrey trade from 2022. It cost the Niners picks in the second, third, and fourth rounds, and they also sent a future fifth-rounder.
Yeah, we can forget about the Green Bay Packers making that deal.
But the Packers could turn to alternatives before the November 10 trade deadline, and Tony Pollard would make a ton of sense.
The Tennessee Titans are going nowhere this season, so it won't be surprising if they strike a deal for the 29-year-old running back, who is on pace for 1,264 rushing yards and his fifth straight 1,000-yard campaign.
Tony Pollard trade would be affordable for the Packers, especially with their expected draft capital
Breer reported that the Titans have listened to offers for Pollard, with it expected to cost "at least a fourth-round pick" to acquire him. That's a perfectly reasonable price tag, especially given the Packers' incoming compensatory picks.
Green Bay already owns two fourth-rounders: its own selection and the Dallas Cowboys' from the Rashan Gary trade. The Packers could include either in a deal for Pollard.
Over The Cap projects that Green Bay will receive four compensatory draft picks in 2027: a third-rounder for losing Malik Willis, fifth-rounders for Quay Walker and Romeo Doubs, and a sixth-rounder for Kingsley Enagbare. That makes it far easier to justify parting with a fourth-round pick for Pollard.
Of course, those compensatory picks technically don't exist yet, so they can't be traded. But the Packers will almost certainly receive four selections in those areas of the draft, even if the exact order changes.
Why Tony Pollard could help fix the Packers' struggling rushing attack
Green Bay's rushing offense ranks No. 32 in the NFL entering Week 9, and it's not particularly close. The team averages just 60.6 rushing yards per game, by far the worst in the league, while the No. 31-ranked Las Vegas Raiders average 77.3 yards.
While the offensive line and inconsistent run-blocking absolutely deserve most of the blame, some of it falls on the running backs, too. According to ESPN, the Packers rank 16th in run-block win rate, which is surprising.
Some of that has been on display. On one frustrating play against the Carolina Panthers last week, the Packers opened up a rushing lane wide enough to drive a car through, but MarShawn Lloyd made a poor decision. He was staring directly at the rushing lane, but seemingly spooked by a safety 15 yards away, Lloyd tried to bounce it outside and lost yardage.
Pollard has the vision and the NFL experience to take advantage of rushing lanes when they open up.
He's hardly blessed with an elite offensive line in Tennessee. Per ESPN, the Titans sit 27th in run-block win rate. If you go by Pro Football Focus' grading, the Titans are 31st in run blocking, the Packers 32nd.
But he's making the most of it. According to PFF, Pollard's 469 rushing yards after contact rank seventh among running backs. He's averaging 3.53 yards per carry after contact, good for 11th, and has forced 23 missed tackles, ranking 12th.
Pollard also has 13 carries of 10-plus yards, which is tied for the 10th-most at the position. It's exactly what this Packers offense needs.
It would be a low-risk move. While the offensive line remains a problem, and one the Packers should address before the deadline, acquiring Pollard could do wonders for the run game.
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