The Jacksonville Jaguars couldn't run the ball in 2024, but it wasn't because of a lack of talent. They had a pretty good backfield tandem in Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne, but the offensive line couldn't block up front. The Jags took the steps to address that and also added Bhayshul Tuten in the NFL Draft. But as promising as the trio is, Pro Football isn't impressed.
Dalton Wasserman of Pro Football Focus ranked all 32 running back rooms and placed Jacksonville at 25, bringing up the fact that Etienne is coming off a down season and Bigsby slowed down as 2024 progressed.
"Travis Etienne Jr. took a major step back last season, recording a career-low 62.8 PFF rushing grade and forcing only 17 missed tackles on the ground," Wasserman wrote. "He ceded work to Tank Bigsby, who earned a 74.6 PFF rushing grade but slowed down as the season progressed. Those two wil need to be better behind a hopefully improved offensive line to add balance to Jacksonville's offense."
On the other hand, Wasserman believes that adding Tuten to the mix could be a net positive," Rookie speedster Bhayshul Tuten could also help after racking up 207 missed tackles forced in his final three college seasons."
All things considered, Wasserman gave Jacksonville a pretty low spot. While it's true that Etienne was unremarkable in 2024, that was mostly due to a shoulder injury and the team's inability to open running lanes. Moreover, last year might've been an outlier rather than the norm as the former Clemson Tiger had totaled over 1,400 yards from scrimmage in both 2022 and 2023.
Bigsby isn't a pushover either. He showed last season that he can carry a big workload, toting the rock 168 times for 766 yards with seven touchdowns. On top of that, the former Auburn Tiger led the league in yards after contact and should be even better in 2025 running behind a beefed-up offensive line.
On the other hand, Tuten is just a rookie but has intriguing traits that make you think that he could have a legitimate chance to be RB1 next season. Back at the NFL Scouting Combine, he posted position-bests for the 40-yard dash, the 10-yard split, and the vertical jump. If he fixes his fumble issues and improves in pass protection, he will earn a role from Day 1.
Why the Jaguars have a top 10 RB trio in Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby, and Bhayshul Tuten
Nobody will deny that Travis Etienne needs to bounce back, while Tank Bisgby needs to show that last year wasn't a fluke. Similarly, Tuten has his work cut out. Having said that, the trio is as talented as any other in the NFL and should be much better simply because the Jacksonville Jaguars made upgrades to the offensive trenches.
The Jacksonville's offensive line was pushed around last year, so the team's brass wasted no time bringing in two starters, right guard Patrick Mekari and center Robert Hainsay. Furthermore, Wyatt Milum could challenge Ezra Cleveland for the left guard job if the latter doesn't put it all together.
It's also worth noting that head coach Liam Coen took the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' running game from one of the worst to one of the best in the NFL during his lone season as their offensive coordinator. A significant improvement should also be expected in Jacksonville.
Ultimately, the Jaguars must turn their potential into production game in and game out, but the talent is certainly there to stun the league next season.
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