This Travis Etienne trade proposal would throw Jaguars fans into a crisis

The Jacksonville Jaguars are off to a terrible start to the 2024 NFL season. If they can't steer the ship in the right direction, it wouldn't be shocking if they staged a fire sale before the November 1st trade deadline. One player who could be in demand is running back Travis Etienne.

Evan Reier from Heavy. believes the Dallas Cowboys should pursue Etienne, noting he would address their lack of lateral speed at running back.

“In terms of a trade, Etienne wouldn’t be a cheap option, but he would be a proven option. He finished eighth in 2023 Offensive Player of the Year voting and got off to a solid start (4.6 yards per attempt and 2 touchdowns). ) through the 2024 season. While it would be a long shot to complete the trade, the Cowboys should consider Etienne as the Jaguars begin their exit process.

It's true that bringing in Etienne wouldn't be cheap. The problem is that Reir doesn't mention any possible compensation that Jacksonville would receive in exchange for the former Clemson Tiger. It is also worth noting that this is just trading speculation. There are currently no reports of the Jaguars sending any players. However, there are several reasons why it could end up in the trade bloc.

First of all, Jacksonville already has a capable backup in 2023 third-round pick Tank Bigsby. Although the former Auburn Tiger struggled in his rookie season, he has turned things around and become a consistent performer, rushing the rock 14 times for 82 yards this season.

Bigsby was arguably better than Etienne in 2023. On the other hand, the latter is not a problem as he gained 164 yards on 36 carries. Additionally, he excels in pass protection, an area where running backs must thrive if they want to stay on the field on all downs.

On the other hand, the Louisiana native may want to get paid after seeing fellow draftees Trevor Lawrence and cornerback Tyson Campbell get extensions in the offseason. The problem is that it is uncertain whether the organization believes Etienne will be part of their long-term plans. Add to that the fact that Bigsby is on his rookie contract and he could actually be part of a sellout.

As disappointing as the Jacksonville Jaguars have been, they aren't going to trade away players for ham sandwiches. Travis Etienne, for example, is one of their best playmakers and they won't trade him unless they can get fair compensation.

Etienne, a first-round pick in 2021, missed his rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury but has amassed over 1,400 yards from scrimmage over the past two years. Even with Bigsby on the roster and despite the offensive line's inability to open up lanes, he is on track to have another productive season. That makes him an attractive trade candidate.

For the sake of argument, let's assume the Jags are actually considering the idea of ​​moving Etienne. They should ask about third- and sixth-round picks. Aside from being an extremely productive player who could do even better with a better offensive line, his contract isn't prohibitive. He is expected to hit cap hits of $4.1 million and $6.1 million in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

If other teams aren't willing to pay the Jaguars' price, they could simply keep Etienne for the remainder of his rookie contract. That means the fourth-year running back could be a legitimate trade asset, but he wouldn't be a bargain.

Ultimately, the Jaguars are better off keeping Etienne, but he could be somewhat expendable due to the presence of Tank Bigsby. Therefore, a mid- and late-round pick would be fair compensation.

Grade: B-