Cowboys Running Back Tony Pollard has signed with the Tennessee Titans for 3 years and $24 million.
However, three NFC Clubs were interested in signing away the now-former Cowboys star, all three who are now down a running back as NFL Free Agency 2023 gets underway.
Cowboys Sought to Keep Tony Pollard in Dallas
If home is where the heart is, then the Dallas Cowboys certainly pushed hard to keep their starting running back. Tony Pollard had begun his career with Dallas backing up former #4 overall pick Ezekiel Elliott, then eventually assuming full time duties in 2023 after Elliott left for the New England Patriots.
Pollard put together a solid season for Dallas in 2023, making 16 appearances out of 17 games, rushing for over 1000 yards and six touchdowns. He also added 55 receptions for 311 yards.
Giants, Expected to lose Saquon Barkley, also inquired
Saquon Barkley is highly expected to leave the Giants during this year’s Free Agency period. Some believe he may join the mutual rival of both Dallas and New York in the Philadelphia Eagles. Tony Pollard was a running back sought after by Joe Schoen, as reported on by Joseph Zucker of Bleacher Report and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Speaking on the hopes of a Barkley re-sign, Fowler noted the following:
“the Giants are still in the mix on a potential re-sign but are also looking at other options, such as Tony Pollard and Austin Ekeler.”
-Jeremy Fowler, ESPN
Given the mention of Ekeler, the Giants have been preparing multiple contingencies in the event Barkley truly does leave New York, independent of Pollard.
Vikings Were Also Involved
Just two seasons removed from having Dalvin Cook complete the fourth of four consecutive thousand yard rushing seasons, the Vikings had to turn to Alexander Mattison for 2023. Mattison had a solid season, but his production tanked in the season’s final weeks as the Vikings dropped all three games to finish 7-10.
The Vikings inquired, especially in the face of losing Mattison, but Pollard would ultimately spurn the Vikings as much as he had the Giants and Cowboys, and turned to the Titans.