Travis Etienne’s future with Jaguars gets murkier after Bhayshul Tuten pick

• And there it is, the Jaguars have drafted a running back.
Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten (RB30) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Virginia Tech running back Bhayshul Tuten (RB30) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

After sitting out the second round, the Jacksonville Jaguars made back-to-back picks in the draft. Now, they're back on the clock near the beginning of the fourth round. And with the No. 104 selection, the Jags have selected Bhayshul Tutel.

Tutel earned an All-ACC Second-Team running back designation as a mainstay of the Virginia Tech offense. Although he's dealt with fumbles throughout his collegiate career, that's something that can surely be corrected with adequate coaching. His biggest red flag is probably that he bounces outside instead of following his blocks and staying in his lane.

Nevertheless, the Jaguars' couldn't pass on Tutel's electrifying speed and big-play capability. Dame Parson of the Bleacher Report scouting department had a third-round grade on him, so you could make the case that Jacksonville got a potential steal.

The Jaguars originally got pick No. 104, along with two third-round selections in 2026, as part of a trade in which they gave pick No. 70 to the Detroit Lions.

Travis Etienne is on notice after the Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten

The Jacksonville Jaguars were expected to take a running back in this year's draft. It could've been Ashton Jeanty at No. 5, but they chose to move up for Travis Hunter instead. Having addressed other needs in the third round, they took Bhayshul Tuten to bolster their backfield. This isn't great news for Travis Etienne.

You could make the case that a fourth-round pick wouldn't be a threat to a player who posted over 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. However, Tuten has the skill set to complement third-year pro Tank Bigsby, who should be firmly entrenched as the No. 1 running back on the depth chart.

Bigsby proved to be a capable three-down back last season, and with Tuten in the fold, the Jaguars could move on from Etienne. This begs the question, why would they do it? The answer is easy. There's a new regime in place, one that is bringing players who fit their philosophy. It's possible that Etienne isn't one of them.

Add the fact that the former Clemson Tiger is set to become a free agent in 2026, and the team's brass may want to move on from him one year early. He could garner the interest of teams who didn't get a running back early in the draft, and if the Jaguars can get something in return for him, they won't hesitate to trade him.

Of course, there's a chance the Jaguars won't trade Travis Etienne just because they drafted Bhayshul Tutuen, but the possibility shouldn't be ruled out just yet. After all, the new regime has already shown that it's not afraid to cut ties with veteran players.

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