![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) walks off the field after losing to the Bills during an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_29,y_0,w_2770,h_1558/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01kj0srqk1fqts6fqzsf.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) walks off the field after losing to the Bills during an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
Among all the Jacksonville Jaguars' free agents this offseason, All-Pro linebacker Devin Lloyd needs to be the top priority to re-sign. not far behind him, though, is 2021 first-round pick Travis Etienne Jr.
The 27-year-old running back has gone through three coaching changes since landing with the Jags. Jacksonville should have an inside track to retain Etienne given his productive season for the reigning AFC South champs, and given the fact that Trevor Lawrence was his college teammate at Clemson. Nevertheless, there is a chance Etienne joins a new team.
Whether Etienne would defect to a division rival is unclear. However, money talks. As does an organization with a sound infrastructure, a solid quarterback, and an upward trajectory.
The Houston Texans are as needy and capable as any Travis Etienne suitor in free agency
Duval County and Jags fans everywhere are shuddering at this possibility. When you look at the salary cap figures between Houston and Jacksonville on paper, it looks like both clubs are cash-strapped.
Here's the difference: The Texans are far more flexible with contract restructures as a means to free up more salary cap space.
Whereas the Jags would need to make five separate moves including a trade for underwhelming offensive tackle Walker Little just to free up $38.5 million in cap room, Houston can pull off six restructures to score a whopping $72 million in 2026 cap savings.
Oh, and for a team that badly needs a dynamic tailback, the Texans also have a no-brainer escape hatch for Joe Mixon. He didn't play a single snap last season, and Houston can save another $8 million by cutting him, per OverTheCap.com.
The Texans have arguably the best defense in the NFL. They're in the conversation with the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks. What they could really use is a little more balance on offense to take some pressure off young QB C.J. Stroud.
Etienne is an undeniably perfect fit in H-Town. Woody Marks was fine as a rookie, but Etienne is an upgrade over him in almost every conceivable way. Maybe Marks has better initial acceleration. Other than that, Etienne is the more dynamic back. Better long speed. Far better in pass protection. A superior pass-catching threat. More elusive in the open field. Breaks more tackles.
That Mixon release and all those Texans restructures I mentioned, by the way? They don't really hurt Houston in the long run. Still a projected $188 million in 2027 cap room to fit in contract extensions for Stroud and superstar defensive end Will Anderson Jr. Plenty to spare for whatever Etienne would cost (Spotrac estimates $6.8 million per year).
Not saying this will happen. Nor am I saying Etienne would agree to such a thing. Just saying...don't sleep on Texans GM Nick Caserio poaching Etienne if James Gladstone doesn't extend him or hit him with the franchise tag.