Travis Etienne Jr. was picked 25th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and delivered back-to-back 1,000-rushing-yard seasons for the Jacksonville Jaguars in his first two seasons in the league. However, the 26-year-old running back had a career-worst season last year and could be traded in the coming weeks.
PFSN’s Sterling Xie expects Etienne Jr. to be a prime trade candidate now. He suggested the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bears as potential trade destinations for the Jaguars’ starter.
Cowboys, Browns, and Bears Potential Landing Spots for Travis Etienne Jr.
Etienne Jr. missed his entire rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury suffered during preseason action. He started 12 games on his return and rushed for a career-high 1,125 yards and five touchdowns. He also posted 35 receptions for 316 yards.
Etienne Jr. rushed for 1,000 yards again in 2023, but his yards-per-carry dropped from 5.1 to 3.8. That number further dropped to 3.7 last season as he was rotated with Tank Bigsby, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry.
As a result, many analysts believe a trade involving Etienne Jr. is imminent. PFSN’s Sterling Xie expects the Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, and Chicago Bears to pursue him in the coming weeks.
“After two years as the clear lead back, Travis Etienne Jr. split snaps and touches with Tank Bigsby in 2024,” Xie wrote. “Etienne had his least efficient season to date, averaging career-lows in yards per carry (3.7) and yards per touch (4.3). With Etienne playing on the last year of his rookie deal and trending down, the former first-round pick is a prime trade candidate — either now or during the season.
“The Cowboys would loom as the most logical trade partner on paper. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer was the offensive coordinator when Jacksonville drafted Etienne in 2021. Etienne didn’t play at all that season because of a preseason foot injury, but it stands to reason that Schottenheimer would welcome a reunion with the Cowboys lacking a clear lead back.
“The Browns are in the same boat with Nick Chubb still un-signed and only two running backs under contract (Jerome Ford and Pierre Strong). The Bears are a less obvious fit, especially if they draft Ashton Jeanty in the first round. However, former Jaguars offensive coordinator Press Taylor is now an assistant in Chicago, and Bears running backs ranked last in yards per carry (3.5) in 2024.”
The Cowboys are widely expected to pick a running back in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. If they don’t get Ashton Jeanty — the consensus top running back in the 2025 NFL Draft — Etienne Jr. could be a good option for them.
The Bears are also in contention to draft Jeanty and could pivot to Etienne Jr. if they don’t get any top RB prospect, according to Xie.
The Cleveland Browns are picking second overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, and that team has a wide variety of needs on both offense and defense. They are widely mocked to draft Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter in the first round — and, with most of the top running backs off the board by Day 1, the Browns could look to Etienne Jr.