Everyone wants the Lions to trade for a cornerback, but the Titans have another player Detroit should call about
The Titans’ roster is suddenly worth exploring after the Jeffery Simmons trade, and Tony Pollard could give Detroit a proven pass-protection option without costing much draft capital.
After the Tennessee Titans traded Jeffery Simmons to the Chicago Bears on Thursday, I went through the rest of their roster with one question in mind. What could the Detroit Lions get out of a Titans trade?
I know Lions fans are all in on cornerback right now. It feels like the only thing anyone wants. You don’t want any of Tennessee’s cornerbacks, though. Unless you can get Alontae Taylor for a seventh-round pick and get the Titans to pay for two years of that contract, you don’t want him. Tennessee made him a healthy scratch a couple of weeks ago, so you probably don’t want him anyway.
There is one player on that roster who makes a lot of sense for Detroit. You’re going to hate me for bringing it up because he’s a running back. His name is Tony Pollard.
Why the Lions should look at Tony Pollard
Here’s the thing. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has been fantastic. He’s arguably the best running back in the NFL, he’s carrying the ball a lot, and he’s doing a great job with it.
He’s also taking a beating. Gibbs missed Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder injury. I don’t know how serious that is, but it’s a reminder of how much Detroit is leaning on him.
There’s one spot where the Lions could get better, and that’s pass blocking from the running back position. Gibbs has improved there, but go back to the Jets game. He allowed two sacks in that one.
Teams are going to keep coming after him, too. I talked with Vikings beat writer Tyler Fornes on Wednesday night, and he said one of the things Minnesota’s defense will try to do is target Gibbs.
What does that mean? It means Detroit needs a back who can stand up in pass protection.
That’s what Pollard brings to the table. He’s good at picking up blitzes, and he can still run the ball. He’s been a starting running back in this league for years. Think of him as a David Montgomery-ish replacement.
The Lions already tried to fill this role
The Lions wanted Isaiah Pacheco to be this guy. Pacheco came in with the same type of game you get from Pollard. He can be a hard-nosed runner, and he’s good in pass protection.
The idea was simple. You want someone who can come in on passing downs when Gibbs needs a breather. Not all the time, but when Gibbs needs to come off the field for a play or a series, you want to get something out of that player.
There was also some hope that Sione Vaki could take that spot. Vaki is fine, but it hasn’t worked out. He hasn’t been able to play as much as I think the Lions would like.
If Detroit got Pollard in there, you would see a lot more Pollard than you see of Vaki. That alone tells you how much he could help.
What a trade with the Titans could look like
If I’m the Lions, I’m calling Tennessee. I’d offer something along the lines of what our trade simulator came up with, which is a 2028 sixth-round pick.
Pollard is on the last year of his deal, and his contract is manageable for a one-year rental. That makes him an easy add for a team like Detroit that doesn’t want to give up anything significant.
It just makes sense for the Lions to pick up role players like this. Pollard can do a lot of what your starter does, which lets you keep Gibbs out of situations you don’t need to put him in. It would also help balance out the running game.
Lions fans want a cornerback, and I understand why. The Titans just don’t have the right one. They do have a running back who fills a real need on this roster for very little cost.
This is a trade I’d keep an eye on. Let’s see if Brad Holmes picks up the phone.
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