As the NFL approaches another frenzied free-agency window, the running back market is once again a major storyline.
Several prominent backs are expected to command significant deals as teams reconsider the position's value following a resurgence in production across the league.
Veterans and ascending starters alike are poised to test the market, and the top tier of the class, including last year’s Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker, is widely viewed as deep enough to spark bidding wars across multiple franchises.
Amid that backdrop, a surprising projection has emerged that could reshape the conversation.
According to ESPN insider Dan Graziano, the Jacksonville Jaguars may lose one of their most recognizable offensive weapons in free agency, with running back Travis Etienne Jr. predicted to sign with the division-rival Tennessee Titans on a three-year, $39 million deal that includes $20 million guaranteed.
The projection is notable not just for its financial details, but for the destination.
If realized, it would send Etienne directly to an AFC South rival, a move that would dramatically alter the competitive dynamics within the division.
Etienne, the 25th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Clemson, has been a key piece of Jacksonville's offense throughout his career.
After missing his rookie season due to injury, he quickly developed into a dual-threat back capable of impacting games as both a runner and receiver.
Across four NFL seasons, Etienne has totaled 3,798 rushing yards on 897 carries (4.2 yards per carry), along with 168 receptions for 1,338 receiving yards and 32 total touchdowns.
His best statistical campaigns came in 2022 and 2023, when he eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in consecutive seasons and demonstrated the explosive open-field ability that made him one of the most productive running backs in Clemson history.
In 2025, Etienne remained one of the league's more reliable workhorse backs.
He carried the ball 260 times for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and finishing 11th in the NFL in rushing yards, while also adding 292 receiving yards and a career-high six touchdown catches.
At 27 years old, entering free agency for the first time in his career, he sits in a sweet spot: experienced enough to command a significant deal, yet still young enough for teams seeking a multi-year solution in the backfield.
If Graziano's prediction proves accurate, the AFC South could soon feature one of the offseason's most intriguing storyline twists - a former Jaguars star lining up in Tennessee colors and facing his old team twice every season.
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