The Denver Broncos are poised to be aggressive this offseason upgrading their roster to embark upon another title chase next season. One area that might garner extra attention is the running back position. It’s expected by many for them to not only upgrade the room but re-assess their backfield utilization moving forward.
Will the Broncos make a splash upgrading their group of backs? Only time will tell. Breece Hall and Kenneth Walker are two players that could potentially be available in March that would
be huge additions for the franchise. We’ve also discussed Tyler Allgeier who would give them a nice complementary option to RJ Harvey.
Another player Denver may have interest in is Travis Etienne of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last offseason, the team Jaguars refused to exercise their fifth-year option on him, and the rumor is they won’t be utilizing the franchise tag on him this league year either. Arguably one of the most productive backs available, Etienne’s versatility as a runner and receiver would make him a sound addition to the Broncos’ offense.
Player Profile
Running Back | Travis Etienne | Jacksonville Jaguars
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 215 pounds
Age: 27 years old
Experience: 4 NFL seasons
2025 stats: 1,107 rushing yards on 260 carries (4.3 YPC) and 7 rushing touchdowns. 36 receptions on 52 targets for 292 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns. Nearly 1,400 all-purpose yards.
Should the Broncos sign running back Travis Etienne?
Earlier in the week, I mentioned three free agents the Broncos should pursue this offseason. One of those was Etienne. Over the past four seasons, the former Clemson standout has been a productive player for the Jaguars. He has topped 1,000 yards rushing in three of his four years in the NFL and had a big rebound season in ‘25 compared to 2024.
In 66 career games with 60 starts, Etienne has 5,136 all-purpose yards and 32 touchdowns. 3,798 of those came on the ground on 897 carries (4.2 YPC) with 25 rushing touchdowns. He was capable as receiver as well, posting 168 receptions on 222 targets for 1,338 yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. That’s premier playmaking ability that would add another formidable dimension to Denver’s offense.
Though he had five fumbles as a rookie, the soon-to-be fifth-year pro has only two in the past three seasons. Knowing that, ball security isn’t a major issue. While once an area of concern, Etienne performed much better, ranking sixth in pass blocking efficiency in ‘25. He’s a battle-tested three-down back that Denver should certainly be interested in.
Why the Broncos will not sign Travis Etienne in free agency.
As I’ve authored in other installments on free agent options at the position, cost could come into play. Various outlets expect Etienne to command a decent contract on the market. His APY will likely be third of all available backs behind Hall and Walker. If Hall is franchised by the Jets and Walker re-ups with the Seahawks, various teams in need of a running back may have to get into a bidding war on Etienne—likely upping his currently projected salary of $7 million a season.
Outside of that, there is one other major issue. Etienne had the fourth most rushes for zero to negative yardage of any NFL back this past season. However, it appears issues on their offensive line, as opposed to running back talent, could have been a culprit in that mark. Either way, that’s a concerning number to look at.
Last but not least, wear and tear could be an issue. He has already had over 1,000 touches in four seasons. Even so, he hasn’t missed a lot of games. Overall, Etienne has proven to be durable despite a major workload and the Broncos certainly need someone who can account for major snaps as their lead back for their ‘26 campaign.
Final Thoughts
I really like Etienne’s fit in Head Coach Sean Payton’s offense. His career marks on inside runs are 4.0 yards per carry, 4.2 yards per carry off tackle, and 4.9 yards per carry on the outside. That’s quite consistent. He’s also generated 2,438 yards after contact and forced 142 missed tackles in his career. His ability to make an impact as a receiver would give Denver another reliable outlet out of the backfield alongside the aforementioned Harvey.
No matter how you slice it, Etienne is a big-time playmaker. The positives significantly outweigh and negatives. If the Broncos are serious about revamping their rushing attack and upgrading their offense, he would be a great player to chase in free agency.
What do you think, Broncos Country? How would you feel about Denver adding Etienne in free agency? Sound off in the comments section and let me know.
