In the build-up to the draft, Travis Etienne was named as a potential trade candidate in the event Jacksonville selected Ashton Jeanty. Even when that did not take place, Etienne’s future was a talking point. 
The new Jaguars regime – led by head coach Liam Coen and general manager James Gladstone – was reported last month to be “not so high” on Etienne. The former first-rounder missed his entire rookie season due to injury but handled a heavy workload as Jacksonville’s lead back in 2022 and ’23. The emergence of Tank Bigsby last season led to a reduction in Etienne’s usage, but the latter should not be considered available at this time.
“He’s done a great job,” Coen said when speaking to the media about Etienne (video link). “I don’t really understand some of the stuff I’ve kind of seen out there. That’s absolutely inaccurate.”
A public rejection of the speculation surrounding Etienne’s future obviously does not represent a guarantee he will remain in place for 2025. Coen’s remarks do, however, certainly point toward that being the case. Jacksonville picked up Etienne’s fifth-year option last spring; as a result, the Clemson product is owed $6.14MM this year. As a pending free agent, Etienne’s play under Coen will of course be crucial in determining his market value.
Fumbles emerged as an issue in Bigsby’s case last year, one in which his snap share jumped to 36%. Two more years remain on his rookie contract, so a role of some kind should be expected as the Coen era begins. The Jags’ backfield also includes fourth-round rookie Bhayshul Tuten, and he will aim to carve out a share of the carries in 2025. Improvement on the ground will expected for Jacksonville given Coen’s success in that regard with Tampa Bay last year.
Etienne – who topped 1,400 scrimmage yards in 2022 and again the following year – will aim to return to his previous efficiency as a rusher while remaining a key contributor out of the backfield in 2025. Doing so would help his chances of landing a long-term Jacksonville commitment next spring. While it remains to be seen if that will take place, a trade between now and Week 1 has become even more unlikely.
His final prove it year basically
Cheap labor now, why trade him?
Yeah basically
Guys like Etienne aren’t easy to replace. He’s a strong runner who is a major weapon in the pass game, very much like Gibbs except not quite as lightning fast.
I think Jacksonville will wait to see what they have in Tuten before making a decision about Etienne. I don’t think it’s a coincidence they drafted a guy so similar to Etienne.
Etienne has 1 fumble over the past 2 seasons (518 touches).
Bigsby has fumbled 6 times over that same period on just 226 touches.
I know which of these guys I’d want to keep around.
Tuten has a history of fumbles too
Lawrence gets a pass due to a bad O-Line but ETN doesn’t?
The math isn’t mathing
Once McCaffrey goes down again, I’d love to see what he would do in the Niners offense.