Running back Travis Etienne is still with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that could change as training camp begins. A former first-round pick, the Clemson product is entering the final year of his rookie contract on the heels of a disappointing 2024. Starting and appearing in 15 games, Etienne finished the previous season with just 558 yards and two touchdowns on 150 carries, averaging an unimpressive 3.7 yards per carry.
With Tank Bigsby looking like the better back, a new coaching staff in town, and the arrival of fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten, Travis Etienne is one of the most popular trade candidates out there. In a recent article, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report made his case for why the Jaguars should part ways with him before the upcoming season. While he won’t fetch a large return, some teams could offer a late-round pick for the dual-threat back.
“Tank Bigsby was the Jaguars’ leading rusher last year, and the organization spent a fourth-round pick on Bhayshul Tuten during the draft,” Holder writes. “That signals Etienne’s time in Jacksonville is nearing an end, especially since he’s entering a contract year. Given the offense’s depth at running back, getting something in return for a player who likely doesn’t have much of a future with the team would be a smart investment.”
Jaguars Urged to Trade Travis Etienne; Multiple Suitors Possible
Next Teams
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have one of the weakest running back rooms in the NFL. Former seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco is a fine north-south runner, but he’s not a natural pass-catcher and doesn’t do too much in the receiving game. The rest of the depth chart, meanwhile, is comprised of unproven youngsters and washed-up veterans. Head coach Andy Reid is one of the best at scheming targets to running backs, but he hasn’t had a player capable of exploiting these matchups since the peak Kareem Hunt days. A Travis Etienne trade would give the Chiefs a dangerous threat in the short part of the field and should help open up this passing attack.
Buffalo Bills
James Cook still doesn’t have a contract, which means the Buffalo Bills should invest in a Plan B at the running back position. While it’s unlikely Cook’s holdout continues into the regular season, Buffalo must prepare for that worst-case scenario. Fourth-round pick Ray Davis isn’t ready to start, and a Travis Etienne trade could help secure the running back position for a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. Etienne isn’t as good as Cook, but he can start and support Josh Allen through the air and on the ground.
Los Angeles Chargers
This one depends on the severity of Najee Harris’s eye injury. While most reports indicate he’ll only miss a short part of practice, ProFootballTalk‘s Mike Florio sent a cryptic tweet suggesting Harris could miss the entire season. This would be disastrous for the Chargers, as head coach Jim Harbaugh firmly believes in the power of the run game. First-round pick Omarion Hampton would be the unquestioned starter, but a Travis Etienne trade would give this team a reliable backup that should still see a decent workload in the offense.
Main Photo: Corey Perrine – Imagn Images
