The Denver Broncos stood pat at this year’s trade deadline after a proposed deal with the Los Angeles Chargers for linebacker Daiyan Henley was called off. But Denver was reportedly active in discussions with several teams, including conversations about upgrading its backfield.
The Broncos first made a push for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor. After it became clear Indianapolis planned to keep him, Denver reportedly turned its attention to Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard.
## Denver Checked In on Pollard After Pursuing Taylor
Under head coach Sean Payton, Denver has used a running back-by-committee approach. The results were decent last season, but the group has struggled this year. J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey are both averaging fewer than four yards per carry, while Jonah Coleman has shown promise. The Broncos’ interest in finding an upgrade before the deadline was therefore unsurprising.
Taylor was one of the league’s most prominent potential trade candidates, and several teams reportedly showed interest in acquiring him. Denver was among them and made a late effort to persuade Indianapolis to move the star running back. That attempt did not succeed, so the Broncos considered Pollard instead.
Pollard, a former Pro Bowler, had been producing well for Tennessee. However, the Titans reportedly wanted at least a third-round pick in exchange, a price Denver ultimately declined to meet. Green Bay also checked in on Pollard, according to reporting by Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport.
## Why Denver Passed on a Trade for Pollard
Tennessee had little momentum as a team, making it reasonable to listen to offers for Pollard. After a slow start to the season, he had recently gained ground, recording 292 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns over the Titans’ previous two games. That production could have helped Denver, but the reported asking price proved too high.
The Broncos are expected to continue with Coleman and Dobbins, while Harvey and Tyler Badie could also contribute if they return from injured reserve later in the season. Denver’s next game is a divisional matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, scheduled for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
