Travis Etienne could ruin a lot of mock drafts.
Coming off of an 1,107-yard season on the ground for the Jaguars, Etienne has “legitimate interest” in signing a free-agent contract with the Chiefs, according to the Kansas City Star.
It is no secret that the Chiefs are looking to add a weapon out of the backfield to an offense that has lost some of its elite firepower over the years.
Patrick Mahomes’ favorite weapon, future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce, is a free agent and contemplating retirement.
Isiah Pacheco’s last two seasons have been marred by injuries and he has slipped under four yards per carry after bursting onto the scene during his first two years out of Rutgers.
Pacheco actually ceded snaps to veteran Kareem Hunt last season, and Hunt led the Chiefs with 163 carries, 611 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.
Both Pacheco, 26, and Hunt, 30, are free agents.
Many mock drafts have the Chiefs selecting Notre Dame running Jeremiyah Love with the No. 9 pick – or even trading up to get their hands on arguably the best non-quarterback player in the draft class.
But free agency comes first, and the Chiefs could change their draft needs profile by signing Etienne.
Etienne topped 1,000 rushing yards in three of his four healthy seasons after becoming a first-round pick of the Jaguars during the failed Urban Meyer regime.
The Florida product never played for Meyer — who entertained using him as a receiver — because he missed his entire rookie season due to a Lisfranc foot injury.
The only time Etienne didn’t reach 1,000 yards in the last four seasons was 2024, when he managed 558 yards in 15 games.
The Jaguars began planning for the future by drafting running backs Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round and LeQuint Allen in the seventh round last April.
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