![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes for yards during the third quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [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/55/01khsfzqt7degn4a6331.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes for yards during the third quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
After an electric run to finish their 2025 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are heading into the offseason with their sights set on a deep playoff run in 2026. But before the season kicks off, general manager James Gladstone has some work to do to hold his roster together. Multiple stars are set to hit free agency, and the Jags have limited money to retain them.
One of those players about to hit the open market is running back Travis Etienne. Especially if they believe in Bhayshul Tuten, the Jags could be willing to let him walk. The back had an impressive season in 2025 and could earn a significant pay bump in free agency.
If the Jaguars are unable to keep him in Jacksonville, fans will hope that he lands with an NFC team rather than helping out another AFC contender. Instead, ESPN analyst Matt Bowen pitched the Kansas City Chiefs as Etienne's best fit.
ESPN names Chiefs as Jaguars RB Travis Etienne's best fit
In a recent article, Bowen named the ideal fit for each of the top free agents in the NFL this offseason. After pairing Etienne with the Chiefs, he said, "Etienne has the play speed to upgrade a Chiefs run game that ranked 25th last season (106.6 yards per game). And with his dual-threat ability as a pass catcher, Etienne would be schemed on screens and backfield releases in coach Andy Reid's system. This is a move to add more juice and big-play ability to the Kansas City offense. Etienne's 26 rushes of 10 or more yards with Jacksonville tied for 12th in the NFL last season."
The running back could be the missing piece in Kansas City's offense. His big-play ability would unlock a unit that has been stagnant for most of the last two seasons. With his help, the Chiefs could quickly return to the top of the AFC.
That's exactly what Jaguars fans are terrified of. With powerhouses like the Chiefs and the Baltimore Ravens on the outside looking in, the 2025 AFC playoff field gave each team a real shot at making a run. Teams like the Jags had a chance to take advantage of their AFC foes' absence. If Kansas City bounces back next season, Jacksonville's hopes of a deeper playoff run may be squashed.
It would be difficult enough to stomach Etienne's departure. To see him move to one of the top teams in the AFC in free agency would be crushing.