Should Tony Pollard have been included?
Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons was ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s top 10 interior d-lineman rankings. Their running back rankings were released earlier this week. Titans starter Tony Pollard didn’t make the list.
Former Titans RB Derrick Henry finished second behind Saquon Barkley. Joe Mixon and Alvin Kamara ranked ninth and 10th respectively. Their inclusions are highly debatable. There were five honorable mentions. None of them were Pollard. Six additional running backs fell into the “also received votes” category. Pollard isn’t listed there either.
A little surprised that there wasn’t more love for Tony Pollard here. Not saying he should have been top-5 or anything but for guys like D’Andre Swift to get votes and Pollard receive none is interesting. https://t.co/A8zKHhL93g
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonSk1) July 7, 2025
That means 21 total running backs were at least mentioned. Some of them were lackluster performers last season, such as Chuba Hubbard, D’Andre Swift, and Kenneth Walker III. It feels fairly egregious Pollard didn’t earn a single vote or mention, considering more than 70 NFL coaches, scouts. and executives are anonymously polled.
Pollard finished 12th in rushing last year with 1,079 yards. It represented his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. Of the 16 RBs who rushed for 1,000-plus yards, his 4.2 YPC finished 14th. Pollard was a workhorse for an underperforming Titans offense that couldn’t pass the football with any consistency. His 260 carries finished eighth in the league.
Pollard signed a three-year, $21.75 million contract with the Titans in free agency last offseason. The former Memphis standout more than lived up to that contract. He’ll enter 2025 as Brian Callahan’s unquestioned lead back, with Tyjae Spears in a supporting spot. Rookie Kalel Mullings is also hoping to capture a change-of-pace role.