The Jaguars may trade 2,100-yard running back, Travis Etienne to the Chiefs or Ravens in a potential fire sale after an ugly 0-3 start. Jacksonville is off to one of the worst starts in the league after their Monday night decimation loss against the Bills, 47-10. It may be time for the Jaguars to unload on Etienne which could be the perfect scenario for the Dallas Cowboys. America’s team has one of the worst collections of running backs among Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle and Dalvin Cook.
Jerry Jones may not think the Cowboys need to make changes but he would be foolish in not considering Etienne. He isn’t the perfect answer the team is looking for but it may be good for him to be a part of a new scenery. There were worries this offseason about the Cowboys’ backfield and the first three games should be able to justify that. Dallas is averaging under 4.0 rushing yards so it’s no surprise why Etienne could be a better option than they have now.
However, Jones has been refusing a reasonable answer as to why they didn’t get Derrick Henry. He says the team could not afford it but had enough cap space to make a deal work and Henry was expecting to receive at least a call from them. Things didn’t work out and it seems like Jones doesn’t have aspirations to improve the roster after declaring they’re going “All-In.” The good news for Etienne is that his abilities and rampaging speed could produce trade interest from other teams that need a running back.
At this point, the Jaguars probably won’t make the postseason this year so it’s smart for Jacksonville to trade Etienne to get some draft capital in return. Ravens and Chiefs are two possibilities.
Jaguars May Trade 2,100-Yard Running Back Travis Etienne To Chiefs, Ravens
More Depth in Kansas City
After Isiah Pacheco’s injury, the Chiefs are struggling to find their temporary starter. Kansas City was using just about every running back including Samaje Perine and rookie Carson Steele. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is still dealing with personal issues but even if he comes back, it wouldn’t be the same for Patrick Mahomes. Edwards-Helaire didn’t beat out Jerick McKinnon last season which is surprising that they didn’t bring McKinnon back.
However, Andy Reid said Kareem Hunt is still the same player he was in 2018 which spells bad news. This means there’s no word on if they will elevate him to the starting lineup. It’s easy to be careful about bringing him back since he may still need some growing to do. Etienne could be their answer since he bounced back from a 2021 injury in a major way.
The 25-year-old ran for 1,125 yards while notching five touchdowns the following year, so it’s clear he has something. Etienne continues to get better by the year. Etienne’s 2024 campaign will probably slow down if he doesn’t get out of Jacksonville. He could carve out a role in Kansas City’s offense with an above-average offensive line and use his speed to create blocks for himself.
Extra Support for Derrick Henry
Henry may have been running all over Dallas in week three but it doesn’t mean they don’t need extra support in the backfield. He can’t do it alone and John Harbaugh understands that so it may be safe to get someone other than Justice Hill. Lamar Jackson utilizes Hill in some running situations but he’s more reliable for quick passes. This is why Etienne could carve out a role behind the Baltimore offense and help open the field more.
Other Potential Trade Destinations
Los Angeles Chargers
It may be Jim Harbaugh’s wish that Justin Herbert may have to depend on the run after leaving the game in a boot. However, it’s never good for your franchise quarterback to not be 100% so adding Etienne in the backfield to help J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards can spell good news. It’s safe for the Chargers to spread the ball to other carriers since Dobbins and Edwards have excellent histories of injuries.
Carolina Panthers
Since Miles Sanders continues to struggle, it may be safe to bet on another backup. Chuba Hubbard is probably their immediate future starter for a long time but rookie Jonathon Brooks has a lot of potential. Etienne could help someone like Brooks in the backfield.
