Before Super Bowl 60, Kenneth Walker III was among the hottest running backs scheduled to become a free agent. Following his MVP performance, his stock is soaring. Either the Seattle Seahawks will have to fork out more money to keep him around, or teams in free agency will have to give him a top-market contract. The good news is that the Jacksonville Jaguars have an intriguing alternative for clubs who miss out on him.
Travis Etienne is coming off a bounce-back season and should be in demand in free agency. In fact, he could turn out to be a cheaper (and more productive) alternative to Walker.
Kenneth Walker III will be a hot free-agent commodity after becoming Super Bowl MVP
The Seattle Seahawks trounced the New England Patriots in Super Bowl 60 because their defense didn't stop wreaking havoc throughout the whole. However, Kenneth Walker III also played a huge role in the win, toting the rock 27 times for 135 yards. Rightly, the outing earned him MVP honors. And because it took place on the biggest football stage there is, the former Michigan State Spartan may be the most coveted running back in free agency.
Before the Super Bowl, Pro Football Focus had a contract value of $27 million on a three-year deal for Walker. After his MVP game, that amount could go up to $10 million or $11 million. Meanwhile, Etienne is projected to get a three-year contract worth $34.5 million. All things considered, that's a fair estimate.
After all, Etienne has been more consistent throughout his career, rushing for more than 1,000 yards three out of the last four years. Similarly, the former Clemson Tiger tallied over 1,400 yards from scrimmage twice in his career. He came up one yard short of the mark in 2025. If that wasn't enough, he's an outstanding pass-catcher out of the backfield. Simply put, he brings ample value to the table.
Meanwhile, Walker has only run for 1,000 yards or more twice in his career. He proved to be extremely valuable this season but left a bit desired in past years. For that reason, his market value is projected to be lower than Etienne's, though it will likely rise after the Super Bowl.
You may also like: The Jags must learn an invaluable lesson after the Seahawks stun the Patriots
Jaguars RB Travis Etienne offers a viable alternative to Kenneth Walker in free agency
If Kenneth Walker leaves the Seattle Seahawks, the Washington Commanders, the Denver Broncos, and the Kansas City Chiefs seem like possible fits. However, only one of them would be able to sign him. That will leave other clubs still needing to find a running back. Their attention should probably then turn to Travis Etienne, who is trending toward being available.
The Jaguars would love to re-sign Etienne, but they simply don't have enough cap space to make him a competitive offer right now. Of course, they still have a bit of time to get something done, so his return shouldn't be ruled just out. Having said that, sophomore Bhayshul Tuten is ready to step into a bigger role if Etienne walks in free agency.
Teams in need of running back help will not hesitate to target Kenneth Walker in free agency, but he'll be far from their only option. You could even make the case that Travis Etienne will offer a better alternative, even if he didn't win Super Bowl MVP like his Seahawks counterpart.