Following the end of the 2024 season, Travis Etienne became the subject of speculation. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars ended up keeping him and instead traded another running back.
Just one day after Etienne's impressive outing in the win over the Carolina Panthers, the Jags sent Tank Bigsby packing to the Philadelphia Eagles in return for a pair of draft selections.
The trade came as a bit of a surprise. After all, Bigsby got plenty of reps in training camp, so it was fair to assume that he was going to have a prominent role even if Etienne was the top option in the Jacksonville backfield. That said, the team's brass made it abundantly clear how they felt about the former Auburn Tiger when they traded him to Philly.
This begs the question, who are the biggest winners and losers from the Bigsby trade? Glad you ask.
Travis Etienne, Jaguars winner
As noted before, Travis Etienne was seen as a potential trade candidate in the offseason. The fact that the Jags picked Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen in the 2025 draft only increased the noise, but he's since done more than enough to prove he's the same playmaker he was for the Jags in 2022 and 2023.
With Tank Bigsby out of the mix, Etienne now can focus on being the best player he can be and put himself in a position to get a massive payday in 2026.
Tank Bigsby, Jaguars loser
You would think that Tank Bigsby would benefit from a change of scenery if he were no longer in the Jaguars' plans. However, he's landing in a less-than-favorable situation with the Philadelphia Eagles.
It would be one thing if Bigsby had become the immediate backup behind the talented Saquon Barkley, but he'll instead join a loaded backfield that includes A.J. Dillon, Will Shipley, and Montrell Williams.
Granted, Philly probably acquired Bigsby because Shipley suffered a rib injury in the opener. But even if he's out for a while, Bigsby may not get much playing time with the Eagles. This should be a bit frustrating for the 2023 third-round draft pick, as he showed last year that he could take on a featured role when he briefly became the lead back in Jacksonville.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars winner
Trading Tank Bigsby wasn't only a sign that the Jaguars feel great about Travis Etienne. It was also an unwavering vote of confidence in 2025 fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten.
Tuten had fumble issues in college, but his top-notch speed was too good to ignore. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash among running backs in the scouting combine, and also posted position bests in the vertical jump and the 10-yard split.
Dating back to the offseason program, Tuten has seemingly fixed his fumble issues, and he showed great awareness in the opener against the Carolina Panthers. He won't probably challenge Travis Etienne for the starting job, but he will most definitely see an uptick in carries moving forward.
A.J. Dillon, Eagles loser
As Wally Pipp attested in the dawn of times, you can lose your job in sports due to injury. A.J. Dillon could be next in line to confirm it.
As noted before, Shipley suffered a rib injury, and his availability for Week 2 is in question. If the Eagles thought there wouldn't be a dropoff with Dillon, they probably wouldn't have traded for Tank Bigsby.
Bigsby may or may not challenge Shipley for the No. 2 job behind Saquon Barkley, but it's fair to say that, regardless of how things play out, Dillon won't get much playing time moving forward.
James Gladstone, Jaguars winner
If you want to get a deal done, James Gladstone is your guy. Less than a year after becoming the general manager for the Jaguars, he's done a great job of giving their roster an overhaul. Along the way, he's moved on from underachieving players and strengthening most position groups.
The Tank Bigsby trade won't have an immediate impact for the Jags. Heck, the Jags can overcome his absence. That said, the two picks they acquire from the Eagles just put them in a great position to make further additions to the roster in 2026.