The Jacksonville Jaguars' backfield of the future likely doesn't include Travis Etienne Jr.
They already traded Tank Bigsby away to the Eagles, and Etienne could be next.
ESPN's Dan Graziano lists Etienne as a prime trade candidate heading toward the Nov. 4 trade deadline, in part to free up rookies Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen.
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"(Etienne is) off to an excellent start with the new coaching staff, which believes he's a great fit for the offense Liam Coen wants to run," Graziano writes. "Through two weeks, Etienne is second in the NFL in rushing (214 yards). He's also playing on the fifth-year option season of his rookie contract and is not signed beyond 2025. The Jaguars drafted Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round of this year's draft and then took passing-down back LeQuint Allen Jr. in the seventh. Those two probably form the future of the team's backfield; Jacksonville already traded Tank Bigsby to the Eagles. If the Jaguars fall out of contention and want to get a longer look at their rookies, Etienne and his $6.143 million salary would probably be pretty easy to move."
Etienne would be a great midseason pickup for a contending team, especially if one has a RB go down injured not long before the deadline.
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That would let the Jags free Tuten and Allen for full workloads.
Tuten is the explosive rusher, while Allen is an awesome pass catcher. They can certainly form a good tandem for the future with Trevor Lawrence.
First, the Jaguars have to decide once and for all what to do with Etienne. It certainly won't hurt their trade cause if he keeps playing this well.
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