The New Orleans Saints signed running back Travis Etienne Jr. to a 4-year $52 million contract on Monday. Etienne comes to New Orleans after spending the first five years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Etienne was drafted in the first round and was again paired with college teammate Trevor Lawrence in Jacksonville after setting nearly every career rushing record in the ACC at Clemson. He suffered a Lisfranc injury (ironically in the Superdome) in the 2021 preseason which caused him
to miss his entire rookie season, but since then rushed for over 1,000 yards in three of the next four seasons in Jacksonville. During his career, the Jags went as Etienne went, as they posted winning records in each of the years he rushed for 1,000 yards and went 4-13 in the only year he did not.
Etienne is an explosive runner who hits the hole quickly and can make plays in space against defensive backs. He is a very good pass catcher as he has gone for over 250 yards receiving each year, but he is not as much of a dual threat as someone like Alvin Kamara was in his prime. He isn’t a liability in the pass game at all, but he is definitely a run-first kind of back as opposed to a guy who needs to catch five balls a game to have a real impact. Etienne is very good at hitting the hole when it is there, as he has a vast amount of experience stretching all the way back to his four year career as a starter at Clemson. He accelerates quickly and will get to the second level almost every time the offensive line opens a hole for him as he also has a great initial jump cut. Once he is in space he has the agility to easily avoid defensive backs, but doesn’t always have the power to break tackles or gain extra yards in a pile. That being said, he still usually gains the yards that are needed in short yardage situations due his great initial burst of speed and vision.
Despite the injury early in his career and the high amount of usage Etienne had in college and the NFL, he has remained relatively healthy over his career, as he missed just two games for the Jaguars after missing his whole rookie year. Another great thing about Etienne is that he does not turn the ball over, as he has just four fumbles in his four seasons playing with the Jags, three of which came during his first year in 2022.
Etienne brings a consistent fix to the Saints backfield that has suffered the last two years due to injuries to Alvin Kamara and the other running backs on the roster failing to replace Kamara’s production. Etienne can provide that production and then some, and also take some of the burden off Kamara’s shoulders which hopefully should keep him healthy down the stretch.
Etienne is the third leading rusher in Jaguars history, and is tied for the second most 1,000 yard seasons in team history after just four years in Duval. Now after helping the Jags return to the playoffs for the first time in five years the 27-year old returns to his home state of Louisiana to try and help the Saints get back to the postseason for the first time since 2020. The Saints were the 28th ranked rushing offense last year, but should instantly improve thanks to Etienne’s presence, as he has quietly been one of the better and most consistent backs in the NFL since he was drafted.
