Former Clemson star running back Travis Etienne is slated to become a free agent this upcoming offseason, unless the Jacksonville Jaguars reach a deal with Etienne in the coming weeks to keep him off the open market.
The 2025 campaign marked the final year of his rookie contract, with Etienne playing on his fifth-year option after being selected by the Jaguars with the 25th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
This season, Etienne surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the third time in his four active seasons after missing his entire 2021 rookie campaign due to a season-ending Lisfranc injury he suffered in that preseason. He ran for 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries in 2025, helping the Jaguars to a 13-5 record and their first AFC South title since 2022. He also caught 36 passes for 292 yards and six scores.
Etienne ranks 11th in the NFL in rushing yards this season and 17th in the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,399. He accounted for a career-high 13 total touchdowns.
CBS Sports recently ranked the NFL’s top 50 free agents in 2026, and the 26-year-old Etienne checked in at No. 23 on the list. He is the third-ranked running back on the list, behind Breece Hall of the New York Jets (No. 9) and Kenneth Walker III of the Seattle Seahawks (No. 19).
“Travis Etienne rebuilt his stock just in time to become a free agent,” CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell wrote. “After hamstring and shoulder injuries derailed his 2024 season, he bounced back to start every game and ran for over 1,000 yards (1,107) for the third time in four seasons. He’s also a value player in the passing game: Etienne, Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs are the only three running backs with over 30 catches and over 250 yards receiving in each of the last four seasons. That’s the span of Etienne’s entire career. A career-high 13 touchdowns from scrimmage also came at the right time.
“He’ll turn 27 on Jan. 26, so he might be in line for a three-year deal with an average per year around $10 million on his next contract.”
The Ringer also recently ranked the top NFL free agents of 2026, and Etienne landed at No. 26 among the top 40. He is the third-ranked running back on that list as well, behind Hall (No. 10) and Walker (No. 21).
“Etienne is a dynamic back with sharp jump cuts who has also improved as a downhill runner, showing a willingness to lower his shoulder into contact and churn his legs to pick up extra yards,” The Ringer’s Austin Gayle wrote. “Etienne can run through arm tackles well and always seems to be falling forward, and once he breaks into the second level of the defense, he has the speed to open up his stride in space. Injuries cost Etienne his entire rookie season, and he battled through shoulder and hamstring issues in 2024, but he’s started every game for the Jags this season and is moving as well as he has at any point of his pro career.
“He’s rushed for over 1,000 yards in three of his four healthy seasons in the league… Etienne has also caught at least 30 passes with at least 250 receiving yards each of the past four seasons, and he ranks second among running backs behind Christian McCaffrey in receiving touchdowns this season with six. Etienne is two years older than Kenneth Walker, which could be a reason for teams to offer a shorter free-agent contract. He could command a similar average salary to Walker in the range of $8 million to $11 million per year.”
Overall, in 66 career NFL games from 2022-25, Etienne has rushed for 3,798 yards and 25 touchdowns on 897 carries while also catching 168 passes for 1,338 yards and seven more scores.
The 2026 league year and free agency officially begin at 4 p.m. on March 11. Teams can start negotiating when the league’s legal tampering period window begins at noon on March 9.
–Photo courtesy of Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images