Before the season, speculation swirled about Travis Etienne's future with the Jaguars. Drafted 25th overall in 2021 to join Trevor Lawrence as a rebuild cornerstone, Etienne's rushing yards declined from 1,125 in 2022 to 558 in a 2024 season where he played 15 games, prompting doubts about his role under new head coach Liam Coen.
Now, Etienne faces a brighter future, as he currently ranks third among NFL rushers with 394 yards in four games, averaging 98.5 yards per game. He powers the offense with his legs, displaying a resurgence few expected after last season's decline. But with his resurgence, the Jaguars could be facing a problem down the line. Etienne’s contract is over at the end of the season. The franchise tag does not seem to be a viable option, as it is rarely used on running backs these days. So with that being said, what do the Jaguars do if Etienne continues to perform like this?
One big option is to pay the man. The question is, what will they pay him? Currently, Etienne is making $6.1 million on his fifth-year rookie option. That isn’t bad money, but he is due for a raise if he continues his consistent play. Right now, the Top 5 running backs in terms of pay are New Orleans’ Alvin Kamara at $12.3 million, Indianapolis’ Jonathan Taylor at $14 million, Baltimore’s Derrick Henry with $15 million, San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey with $16 million and Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley with $20.6 million. Etienne, who will be 27 years old after this season, could earn somewhere in the range of $10 million to $15 million per season, or more, with contract terms potentially spanning three to four years. Is that something the Jaguars feel comfortable paying is the question. They are expected to have $49.2 million in cap space, and with extension decisions potentially looming for defensive lineman Travon Walker and linebacker Devin Lloyd, this will be a couple of decisions the Jaguars will have to consider if they decide to keep Etienne past the 2025 season.
While keeping Etienne sounds good for some, given the production he is giving so far over his career, the ultimate decision could be to move on from Etienne. That could happen during the trade deadline this season, depending on how the Jaguars are performing, or it could occur this offseason. With the way the market has been and the way teams don’t value running backs, it would be easier to see Etienne signing a deal with another team for a shorter amount of time, maybe two years at most. However, along with that move, it would signal that Jacksonville would like to go younger at the position, with backs like Bhayshul Tuten leading the way. The talented young running back can catch and run the football, and more importantly, he provides the Jaguars with a cheaper option while building other areas of the team.
To keep him or to let him go? Before the season, it was an easy decision for most. But with each passing week, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Jaguars to envision themselves without him if he continues to perform well each week.