![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) takes to the field before an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/55/01jsnhb27f93fsfcavwn.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) takes to the field before an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 34-3. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
The Jacksonville Jaguars did a great job of keeping their draft strategy close to the chest. While they were linked to several prospects the weeks preceding the event, they ultimately traded for the No. 2 pick, which they used to select two-way star Travis Hunter. For a few days, though, it looked like they were leaning toward taking running back Ashton Jeanty. They didn't, and the decision reaffirms the team's confidence in Travis Etienne.
After 2024, there was chatter that Jacksonville could cut ties with Etienne. This made sense when you take into account that he was coming off an underwhelming season. Couple that with the ascencion of fellow Tank Bigsby last year, and the 2021 first-round pick appeared to be on his way out.
The chatter only grew louder after the Jags moved on from several veterans, including wide receiver Christian Kirk, tight end Evan Engram, and cornerback Ronald Darby. To make matters worse, Jeanty suddenly became the favorite to be the pick at No. 5.
If the Jaguars had drafted Jeanty, Etienne would've immediately become expendable. That's no longer the case. Now, the Louisiana native will have the chance to bounce back and rebuild his stock before he becomes a free agent in 2026.
Travis Etienne gives the Jaguars an intriguing RB despite not being as good as Ashton Jeanty
Ashton Jeanty tallied over 1,700 yards after contact last year, while Omarion Hampton, the second-best running back prospect in this year's draft, finished the season with 1,600 total rushing yards. There's no doubt that the 2024 Heisman Trophy finalist would've forced opposing defenses to bring extra players into the box and taken some of the burden off Trevor Lawrence's shoulders. That said, Travis Etienne is no slouch.
Etienne was also a first-round selection back in 2021. He missed his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury but became a mainstay of the Jaguars offense the following year. The former Clemson Tiger then went on to post consecutive 1,000-yard season. Unfortunately, injuries hindered his production last year and took on a secondary rule due to the presence of Tank Bigsby.
That was last year, though. Travis Etienne doesn't have a lingering injury concern, so he should have no trouble bouncing back and proving he's still a dominant player behind the Jaguars' rebuilt offensive line.