Jaguars must invest resources in the running back room this offseason

There are many positions to address in the Jacksonville Jaguars’ in their to-do list offseason. While running back ranks near the bottom, Travis Etienne and James Robinson are coming off serious injuries, so the Jags should err on the side on caution and add depth in either free agency or the draft.

David Kenyon of Bleacher Report recently drew up a list of one move every NFL team should avoid making and he believes the Jaguars should avoid overspending on the running back position. Kenyon acknowledges that Etienne and Robinson are currently nursing injuries but believes it shouldn’t be a cause for concern in Jacksonville. He also believes the Jags should prioritize other needs.

"But this isn’t a moment for the Jaguars to panic; their concerns on the rest of the roster are increasingly more pressing. Given the likelihood Robinson misses time or isn’t at full strength to begin 2022, Jacksonville would benefit from a new face at running back. However, the emphasis should be on low-cost rookies or a veteran who embraces the possibility of a decreasing role as Robinson returns to full health."

Just to be clear, Kenyon isn’t saying the Jaguars shouldn’t pour any resources into their running back but rather that they shouldn’t use a top pick in the draft or sign a premier free agent. But that’s the thing, nobody would have expected them to invest heavily in the position. They already used a first-round selection on Etienne last season and you could make the case they had better options at No. 25. On the other hand, Jacksonville can’t afford to cut corners either. They could use a mid-round pick or sign a mid-tier running back in free agency.

The Jaguars need to find the right balance at running back this offseason.

Head coach Doug Pederson recently appeared on 1010 XL and said that when healthy, Etienne and Robinson give the Jaguars a superb one-two punch but it will be a while before the duo takes the field together. E-T-N’s recovery is going well and he’s a good bet to partake in the team’s Organized Team Activities. However, Robinson may not be available for the start of the 2022 season, so the Jags should add insurance to their backfield.

Dare Obungowale is set to hit the open market and veteran running back Carlos Hyde is still on the roster but wasn’t particularly effective when he was on the field last season, averaging 3.5 yards per carry. Releasing him would free up almost $2 million in cap space, which the Jags could then use to sign someone else in free agency. James Conner and Melvin Gordon may exceed the team’s offseason allowance but there will be plenty of solid options, including but not limited to Marlon Mack, Sony Michel, and Rashaad Penny.

Another option is to use a mid-round pick in this year’s draft. The Jaguars have two third-round selections and one in the fourth. At that point of the draft, there will still be many enticing prospects on the board and the worst that could happen is that Jacksonville could end up with three good running backs once Etienne and Robinson are healthy. Teams would love to have that kind of depth at the position.

Simply, the Jaguars can’t overlook the running back position in free agency, even if they have more pressing needs. Injuries hit the position hard last year and they should be prepared for the worst-case scenario.