This Travis Etienne trade proposal would send Jaguars fans into a meltdown

The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a dreadful start to the 2024 NFL season. If they cannot steer the ship in the right direction, it wouldn't be shocking to see them hold a fire sale before the Nov. 1 trade deadline. One player who could be in demand is running back Travis Etienne.

Evan Reier of heavy. believes the Dallas Cowboys should pursue Etienne, pointing out that he would solve their lack of lateral speed at running back.

"In terms of a trade, Etienne wouldn’t be a cheap option, but he would be a proven one. He finished eighth in Offensive Player of the Year voting in 2023 and has had a solid start (4.6 yards per attempt and 2 touchdowns) to the 2024 season. While pulling off the trade would be a longshot, the Cowboys should consider Etienne if the Jaguars start clearing out."

It's true that landing Etienne wouldn't come cheap. The trouble is that Reir doesn't mention any potential compensation Jacksonville would get in exchange for the former Clemson Tiger. It's also worth noting that this is just trade speculation. There are currently no reports the Jaguars are shipping any players. Having said that, there are a couple reasons he could end on the trade block.

For starters, Jacksonville already has a capable replacement in 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby. Although the former Auburn Tiger struggled in his rookie campaign, he's turned the corner and become a steady contributor, toting the rock 14 times for 82 yards this season.

Arguably, Bigsby has been better than Etienne in 2023. Then again, the latter is no slouch, having gained 164 yards on 36 carries. Moreover, he excels in pass protection, an area where running backs must thrive if they want to stay on the field on all downs.

On the other hand, the Louisiana native may want to get paid after seeing fellow draftees Trevor Lawrence and cornerback Tyson Campbell get extensions in the offseason. The issue is that it's uncertain if the organization thinks Etienne will be part of their long-term plans. Add the fact that Bigsby is on his rookie contract, and he could indeed be part of a fire sale.

Grade the proposal: The Jaguars trade Travis Etienne to the Cowboys for a 3rd-round pick

As underwhelming as the Jacksonville Jaguars have been, they won't be giving away players for ham sandwiches. Travis Etienne, for one, is one of their top playmakers and they won't trade him unless they can get fair compensation.

Etienne, a first-round pick in 2021, missed his rookie campaign with a Lisfranc injury but has gone on to amass over 1,400 yards from scrimmage the past two years. Even with Bigsby in the fold and despite the offensive line's inability to open lanes, he's on pace to have another productive season. That makes him an appealing trade candidate.

For the sake of the argument, let's say the Jags do entertain the idea of moving Etienne. They should ask for third and sixth-round picks. Leaving aside that he's a highly productive player who could fare even better with a better offensive line, his contract isn't cost-prohibitive. He's set to have cap hits of $4.1 million and $6.1 million in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

If other teams aren't willing to meet the Jaguars' price, they could simply keep Etienne around for the remainder of his rookie contract. This is to say that the fourth-year running back could be a legitimate trade asset but he wouldn't be a bargain.

Ultimately, the Jaguars are better off keeping Etienne, but he could be somewhat expendable due to the presence of Tank Bigsby. Thus, a middle and a late-round pick would be fair compensation.

Grade: B-