The Jacksonville Jaguars haven't made any high-impact moves yet, but that doesn't mean the team isn't thinking of a master plan. While most people are focused on linebacker Devin Lloyd's future, running back Travis Etienne is likely to receive multiple offers himself. The Clemson grad gave Jacksonville multiple 1,000-yard seasons on the ground, but the team's salary cap situation makes negotiating a new deal difficult.
If you're an optimist, then you're probably excited for Bhayshul Tuten to get his chance to flourish as Duval County's new RB1. The former Hokie scored seven total touchdowns during his rookie season and established himself as a valuable member of the Jaguars' rotation.
While Tuten's production could explode if he masters Liam Coen's playbook, the Jags probably can't rely on him to be a 300-carry workhorse just yet. Luckily, a young running back from the NFC is due to hit the open market and present himself as an interesting option.
Emanuel Wilson could leave the Packers to become RB2 with the Jaguars
The Green Bay Packers' running back room is similar to the Jaguars'. The Packers have a leader they clearly plan to give the ball to (Josh Jacobs) and not much else behind him. One reason for their lack of depth is the pending departure of Emanuel Wilson, a 26-year-old pro who gained 496 rushing yards and found the endzone three times last year.
According to Freddie Boston of Lombardi Ave., the Packers didn't want to use any of the tenders available to them to make Wilson a restricted free agent. The cheapest option would have been the right of first refusal tender at $3.8 million. If they used this tool, Green Bay would have been able to match any offer Wilson received from another franchise. However, they opted not to make a pact with the Boise State alum at the assigned price tag.
This development could mean that Wilson is an extremely affordable option for Jacksonville to consider. The Jags are pressed against the salary cap and probably won't be able to sign a big name free agent, so they need to find the best value signings they can before heading into the draft.
To clarify, value doesn't always mean cheap. In this case, it would mean landing a young player with high upside who is woefully undervalued. Since 2023, Wilson has never gotten more than 125 carries in a season. In the passing game, he's almost never targeted. The lack of opportunities will affect how much money he can command in the open market, but there's a strong chance he could become an impactful player if he signs with a team that like to use a running back by committee approach.
Liam Coen leaned on Travis Etienne most of the time last season, but there's no guarantee that he'll do the same thing with Bhayshul Tuten as his starter. While LeQuint Allen is blowing guys up on special teams, Wilson could be the traditional backup Jacksonville needs to prevent its running game from stalling out when the offense needs it most.
We'll have to see what James Gladstone does, but the Jags are in a position where they need to improve the roster as much as they can. Letting two big-time starters walk into the open market isn't a great start, but an affordable contributor like Emanuel Wilson could help the team fill a serious gap for the time being.