ESPN Predicts Where Etienne Signs
By: Gavin Oliver February 16, 2026

With the NFL offseason upon us, ESPN took an early look ahead to the 2026 NFL campaign.

A number of ESPN NFL experts made a big prediction about this offseason or next season, and one of those experts — Eric Moody – gave a prediction regarding Travis Etienne, who is slated to become a free agent and hit the open market this offseason.

Moody predicted Etienne to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs during free agency.

Of course, the former Clemson star running back has spent the first five years of his pro career with the Jacksonville Jaguars after being selected by the franchise in the first round (25th overall pick) of the 2021 NFL Draft.

The 2025 campaign marked the final year of Etienne’s rookie contract, with Etienne playing on his fifth-year option.

Clemson’s Travis Etienne scores against Miami in the second quarter during Clemson’s game against Miami at Memorial Stadium in Clemson on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. (Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider)

“Etienne would be intriguing as a proven, versatile back who has surpassed 1,000 rushing yards in three of his four healthy seasons, including 1,107 yards and seven touchdowns in 2025,” Moody wrote. “His ability to contribute as both a runner and receiver (5,136 career all-purpose yards with 32 touchdowns) would boost a Chiefs backfield that averaged less 4.0 yards per carry last season and failed to produce a running back with at least 200 receiving yards.”

Etienne, 27, caught 36 passes for 292 yards and six scores in 2025. He ranked 11th in the NFL in rushing yards and 17th in the league in yards from scrimmage with 1,399. He also accounted for a career-high 13 total touchdowns.

Overall, in 66 career NFL games from 2022-25 — after missing his entire 2021 rookie campaign due to a season-ending Lisfranc injury he suffered in that preseason — 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.

Pro Football Focus ranks Etienne as the No. 15 overall player set to enter free agency, and pegged the Arizona Cardinals as the top landing spot for him. Meanwhile, Fox Sports ranks Etienne as the 20th-best free agent and predicted the Jennings, La., native to sign with the New Orleans Saints.

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.