AFC team becoming clear favorite for Travis Etienne if Jaguars don't act quickly

With free agency around the corner, the Jacksonville Jaguars are beginning to re-sign their own players. Just recently, they gave unheralded tight end Quintin Morris a one-year deal worth up to $3 million. However, they have plenty of work left.

Re-signing Morris was relatively easy because it wasn't cost-prohibitive, but because of cap constraints, Jacksonville could have trouble locking up linebacker Devin Lloyd and running back Travis Etienne. In fact, it looks like both of them are trending toward testing the market.

While Lloyd will garner plenty of interest, Etienne will have no shortage of suitors either. One AFC, in particular, is quickly becoming a trendy destination for the former Clemson Tiger.

The Broncos could make a strong push for Travis Etienne if the Jaguars let him walk

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports that the Broncos are set to make a splash signing at running back, noting that they were the reason the New York Jets used the franchise tag on Breece Hall.

Later in his column, Jones argues that Denver would be a logical landing spot for Kenneth Walker III but also identifies Travis Etienne as a realistic target in free agency.

"The Broncos would be an obvious landing spot for Kenneth Walker III, but the team could opt for Travis Etienne as a more affordable running back," Jones wrote."

Keep in mind that this isn't the first time Etienne has been linked to the Broncos. In late March, Benjamin Allbright of KOA 859 AM said on Twitter that the 2021 first-round pick would be an ideal fit in Sean Payton's offensive scheme.

Ultimately, it would come down to whether the Broncos could outbid other teams for Etienne's services. The veteran running back is projected to make $10 million or more per year, and nobody would bat an eye if the final figure is close to the $15 milllion-mark.

Aside from Denver, the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs could be potential landing spots for Etienne. The Houston Texans also appeared to be a potential suitor before they traded for David Montgomery.

After missing his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury, Etienne has turned out to be a highly productive player for Jacksonville, racking up more than 1,000 yards each of the past three years. Moreover, he's coming off a season in which he totaled 1,399 yards from scrimmage and a career-best 13 total touchdowns.

The Jaguars have a bit of time left to re-sign Travis Etienne

The Jaguars wouldn't have liked to watch Travis Etienne cross divisional lines to join the Texans, but they probably won't be thrilled to see him sign with Denver either.

Sure, the Broncos lost to Jacksonville in the regular season, but advanced further in the playoffs and all the way to the conference championship. If they were to add Etienne to their offense, they would be a realistic threat.

It's also worth noting that these two AFC teams will face off in 2026, so Travis Etienne could show Jacksonville that it was a mistake to let him walk if he ends up joining the Broncos.

Simply put, time is running out for the Jaguars to lock up Travis Etienne, with free agency less than a week away.