Jaguars just lost Travis Etienne to ascending team with an unbeatable edge

The Jacksonville Jaguars got off to a promising start to the tampering period, bringing back cornerback Montaric Brown and linebacker Dennis Gardeck. However, they weren't going to be able to re-sign everyone. That's why it wasn't particularly shocking to see the Jags lose one of their offensive mainstays to an NFC team.

But even if Jacksonville made a strong bid to retain Etienne, they were going to have trouble competing because of one crucial advantage they lacked.

The Jaguars just watched Travis Etienne signed with the Saints

Jordan Schultz broke the news on social media that the New Orleans Saints have signed Travis Etienne, noting that his ties to Louisiana played a role in his decision. Not long after, Schultz added that it's a four-year deal worth $52 million for the former Clemson Tiger. Adam Schefter of ESPN also confirmed the signing.

As much as the Jaguars would've loved to keep Etienne, they would've had trouble competing outbidding the Saints. While he didn't get $15 million per year, his annual average of $12 million puts him among the top-10 highest-paid running backs in the NFL. All things considered, it was a great move by New Orleans.

Now, Etienne joins a backfield that includes Alvin Kamara, who's back in The Big Easy after restructuring his contract. Together, the duo gives New Orleans one of the most electrifying duos in the NFC.

In case you were wondering why the Saints zeroed in on Etienne, he's a clip of what he was capable of doing during his stint with Duval.

A first-round pick in 2021, Etienne missed his rookie campaign, but once he was back, he wasted no time becoming a mainstay of the Jacksonville offense, crossing the 1,000-yard mark three of the past three years. Moreover, the Jennings, Louisiana native posted 1,400 yards from scrimmage in 2022 and 2023 and missed the mark by just one yard last season.

But as productive as Etienne was, the Jaguars felt like they could move on from him because of the presence of Bhayshul Tuten, who showed big-play capability whenever he was given a chance last year. In fact, Jacksonville drafted Tuten and LeQuint Allen last year, because they weren't sold on either Etienne or Tank Bigsby, who's since been shipped to the Philadelphia Eagles.

With Etienne in the fold, Tuten has a chance to become the undisputed No. 1 in the Jacksonville backfield.

What's next for the Jaguars after letting Travis Etienne sign with the Saints?

The Jaguars will most likely roll with Bhayshul Tuten as their No. 1 moving forward. However, they need to add reinforcements at running back. LeQuint Allen is a fine player, but he's better suited for a role as a pass-protector. Similarly, DeeJay Dallas is back after flashing last year. Having said that, investing a third-round pick (Jacksonville has three in 2026) or a fourth-rounder at the position would make sense.

Another option would be to go after Emmanuel Wilson, who was a solid No. 2 behind Josh Jacobs for the Green Bay Packers. Similarly, Sean Tucker is available, and he previously played under Jaguars head coach Liam Coen when he was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024.

There's no doubt that it will be weird to see the Travis Etienne wear the Black & Gold moving forward, but the silver lining is that the Jaguars have options to soften the blow of his departure.