Running Back Travis Etienne is likely auditioning for his final matchup tomorrow before a trade involving Ravens, Chargers as possible fits. The trade deadline is around the corner so this means teams must act fast if they want to build draft capital for the future of their rosters. After trading Cam Robinson, it seems like the Jaguars will firesale soon if they can’t find a way to win despite their 2-6 record. There’s probably no better way of building for 2025 than to trade someone like Etienne who still has a lot in the tank.
Originally selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Clemson product was a dependable option for Trevor Lawrence’s offensive scheme. They hoped bringing in someone like head coach Doug Pederson could lead this organization but that hasn’t been happening which may lead to a firing sooner or later. One report says that Pederson is looking to leave Jacksonville which may explain his unproductivity. Distractions like this probably won’t benefit star players like Etienne since the Jaguars must face reality and rebuild.
It doesn’t help that the emergence of Tank Bigsby is earning him extra snaps but he’s taking advantage of that opportunity. Physically, Bigsby is probably better than Etienne which could be why they may be sticking with Bigsby. If Etienne can get back to full health and put on a decent outing in his potential final matchup with the Jaguars, teams could be ringing the phone and start making deals come this Monday.
Backfield Gem Travis Etienne Likely “Auditioning” Before Trade – Ravens, Chargers Possible Fits
Help for Derrick Henry
After trading for Diontae Johnson, the Ravens could remain active on this year’s trade market to improve their roster. While they want to improve the defensive balance between Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, Baltimore may switch gears and focus on building a speedy offense to make upcoming games competitive. Even though Keaton Mitchell is returning, there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready for any snaps once he returns to the 53-man roster. The Ravens have been betting on Derrick Henry on the ground and Justice Hill in quick drop-off passes.
Henry still needs some assistance running the football since they can’t afford to make him miss any time this upcoming postseason. Baltimore may address the defense before adding another offensive piece like Etienne but the reality is to add more comfort for Henry on the ground. Jim Harbaugh said it before Henry isn’t the entire offense and if that remains true, it won’t bode well if they want to get Mitchell in the mix. Etienne may be banged up himself but he’s still young and has a lot of speed to keep moving the football similar to other speedsters like Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
Improving the Ground Game
The Chargers did a complete reset at the running back position this past offseason, leading Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley to walk. However, they brought in J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards to lead as the new 1-2 punch backfield pieces. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said anyone with the hotter hand will be the starter and so far it’s been paying off for Dobbins. Edwards is dealing with yet another injury in his NFL tenure so reports are coming out that the Chargers could explore the idea of trading for a new running back.
The team only brought back Isaiah Spiller and Elijah Dotson as reserves so this means they are lacking some depth behind Dobbins. Etienne would easily become the fastest backfield since Jim Harbaugh loves winning football games with great running abilities. The youngster could provide what the Chargers are looking for since the team already has one of the worst collections of pass catchers in the league. As long as Etienne can stay healthy, he may revitalize the team’s ground game.
