Dolphins just gave Jaguars a potential Travis Etienne replacement on silver platter

Running back Travis Etienne has been the subject of trade chatter this offseason, and understandably so. He's entering a contract year, and Tank Bigsby routinely outplayed him last year. If the Jacksonville Jaguars decide to move on from him, they could replace him with the 2023 NFL rushing touchdown leader.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Valentine's Day that the Miami Dolphins were releasing running back Raheem Mostert, with cornerback Kendall Fuller, and tight end Durham Smythe.

Of the bunch, Mostert's probably the one that stands out the most. Before Rapoport broke the news, Mostert's agent had posted on social media that his client will be "playing elsewhere next season," noting that both parties benefit from a split.

After going undrafted in 2015, Mostert signed with the Philadelphia Eagles but was released not long after. He then spent time with the Phins, the Cleveland Browns, the Chicago Bears, and the Baltimore Ravens before landing with the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. It was then that the Purdue product found some stability. However, he had a reserve role throughout most of his stint in the Bay Area.

Mostert bolted for Miami in 2022. There, he was at last able to put it all together. In his first season with the Phins, he posted a career-high 891 rushing yards. The Smyrna Beach, Florida native followed that up with 1,012 yards and a league-best 18 touchdowns on 209 in 2023.

Unfortunately, injuries slowed Mostert down last year. Specifically, he dealt with a fractured sternum, the breastplate in the center of the chest, and was eventually phased out in favor of De'Vone Achane. It didn't help that he had a pair of costly fumbles during a three-game stretch.

By releasing Mostert, the Dolphins will free up $3.06 million with $1 million on dead money.

Why Raheem Mostert would be a great replacement for Travis Etienne if the Jaguars trade him

Travis Etienne is coming off a down season. Then again, injuries and an underwhelming offensive line that couldn't block played a role in his struggles. It's reasonable to believe that he could bounce back in 2025. That said, there's a new regime in place, and it's not a given they'll want him to stick around.

The former Clemson Tiger is set to make $6.1 million but none of it is guaranteed. Granted, he registered over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in both 2022 and 2023 but the Jags may want to get younger at the position. Moreover, Tank Bigsby proved last season that he could take on a featured role.

Add the fact that the Jags could get a fifth-round pick, maybe a fourth in exchange for Etienne, and they may be incentivized to pull the trigger. If the team's brass does move on from the fifth-year running back, they could look for his potential replacement in the third or fourth round of this year's draft. This will be a deep class, so they'll have no shortage of options.

But apart from adding a running back in the draft, Jacksonville should most definitely kick the tires on Raheem Mostert. He's just one year removed from a career season and could benefit from a change of scenery. You could make the case that he's entering his 11th NFL season, which is like 30 at his position, but he doesn't have much tread on the tires — 759 career carries — so he should have a couple of years left in him.

It's also worth noting that the Miami Dolphins didn't think he was worth the $3 million he was set to make in 2025, so Jacksonville could lock him up at a reasonable rate. This makes sense when you take into account that he wouldn't be the top option in the backfield but would instead serve as the No. 2 option behind Bigsby.

The bottom line is that signing Raheem Mostert this offseason could be a low-risk, high-reward move that could bolster the Jaguars' rushing attack in 2025.

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