The Jacksonville Jaguars will have to address several positions in the offseason. One that isn't discussed nearly enough is running back, with Travis Etienne scheduled to become a free agent. While it may not be cost-prohibitive to re-sign him, the Jags are dealing with a cap crunch and may have pressing needs.
That may lead Etienne to explore his options in the open market. The good news is that Jacksonville has Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen in the mix. Moreover, they will have several bargain options to bolster their backfield in free agency.
The Jaguars will have options in free agency to replace Travis Etienne
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report took a look at a handful of potential replacements in free agency if Travis Etienne walks. He named Rico Dowdle, Javonte Williams, Breece Hall, Kenneth Walker III, Kenneth Gainwell, and Dare Ogunbowale. All things considered, that's an intriguing group
Like Etienne, Dowdle, Williams, and Walker crossed the 1,000-yard mark. That said, he's a better receiver out of the backfield, which increases his overall value. And that's the thing, the Jaguars ask their running backs to be part of their passing game, so losing him in free agency would most definitely sting.
With that said, Williams, Dowdle, or Walker may be cheaper in free agency, so they would present realistic alternatives if Etienne leaves.
A first-round pick in the 2021 draft, Etienne missed his rookie campaign but rushed for more than 1,000 each of the next two years. However, the Jennings, Louisiana native saw a dip in production while he dealt with a shoulder injury in 2024. Couple that with the addition of Tuten in the draft, and questions surfaced about his future in Jacksonville beyond 2025.
Etienne ultimately answered the call and once again showed that he's a viable RB1, toting the rock 260 yards with 1,107 yards with seven touchdowns and hauling in 26 receptions for 292 yards with six receiving touchdowns.
Related: 5 players who definitely won't return to Jacksonville in 2027
The Jaguars will want to keep Travis Etienne (but may still lose him)
For his part, Travis Etienne has stated that he wants to return to Jacksonville, pointing out that he's not made for the cold weather. Spotrac set his contract valuation at $6.8 million, so re-signing him wouldn't be expensive, at least in comparison to linebacker Devin Lloyd. That makes you think that there's a chance the Jaguars will be able to bring him back.
But on the off chance that Etienne leaves, pairing someone like Rico Dowdle with Bhayshul Tuten would make sense, as he or Breece Hall could be more affordable options in free agency.
Then again, Tuten flashed as a rookie, and he will most likely be given a shot at becoming the lead back in 2026. In fact, a better course of action — knowing that Jacksonville is over the cap and has more pressing needs — would be to turn to the draft to find a potential replacement for Etienne.
The bottom line is that the Jaguars would love to bring Travis Etienne back but must brace themselves for the possibility of losing him in free agency. The silver lining is that they'll have options to overcome his potential departure.