Travis Etienne has been a popular trade target for the past few weeks, and calls to move him are only getting louder as the Jaguars keep losing. Following a season that ended with a disastrous second-half collapse, Jacksonville entered the 2024 season hoping to right the ship with Doug Pederson and the recently extended Trevor Lawrence. That never happened, as the Jaguars enter Week 7 with a 1-5 record following a blowout loss to rookie Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. With the season effectively over, Jacksonville could trade some established veterans for future draft picks.
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio believes Travis Etienne should be on the trade block. Calling him “the most obvious name” in trade rumors, the NFL insider brings up Etienne’s back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as a reason teams could go after him. With 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby thoroughly outplaying him through six games, the Jaguars could send their former first-round pick to the highest bidder. Florio specifically calls out the Dallas Cowboys as a potential landing spot but acknowledges that “a contender” like the Kansas City Chiefs or New Orleans Saints could also pursue him.
Mike Florio Believes the Jaguars Could Trade Travis Etienne
Running back is far from the biggest issue for the Dallas Cowboys, but they could still use an upgrade at the position. Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott are perhaps the most underwhelming duo in sports, as Dowdle is the definition of a replacement-level player while Elliott is well past his prime. Dowdle is the clear lead back in this offense, and Elliott’s lack of usage has reportedly caused a bit of drama behind the scenes. Jerry Jones claims he’s saving Elliott for the second half of the season, but he should consider getting a better starter via a Travis Etienne trade.
At 3-3 and playing in one of the most competitive divisions in football, the Cowboys must do something to salvage their season. Head coach Mike McCarthy will not survive another quick playoff exit, and Dallas is currently on a collision course with a Wild Card defeat. Jerry Jones is an old-school football mind who believes running backs make a difference, so if they have the financial liberty to do so, they should consider a Travis Etienne trade.
Other Suitors
Isiah Pacheco could be done for the season, which means the Chiefs could use more security in their backfield. Former third-round pick Kareem Hunt turned the clock back to 2017 in his first two games with Kansas City, but is this sustainable? Now playing in his age-29 season, Hunt is well past the age where running backs start slowing down, and the one-time rushing leader looked washed during his final season with the Cleveland Browns. Maybe Andy Reid’s scheme is just that good, but a Travis Etienne trade would ensure the Chiefs have at least one reliable running back as they pursue their third Super Bowl in as many seasons.
The New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, should be passively looking for a long-term Alvin Kamara replacement. While the running back is still putting up numbers, he can’t do this much longer. Kamara was at his best when he had a reliable backfield partner like Mark Ingram, but that hasn’t happened in years. Jamaal Williams is not playing up to his contract, and head coach Dennis Allen doesn’t trust 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller. Instead of giving up a mid-round draft pick, perhaps the Saints could trade Miller and a late-round pick for Travis Etienne.
Main Photo: Peter van den Berg – USA Today Sports
