The Kansas City Chiefs head into the offseason with the running back position being a massive hole on this team. Finding a new RB1 will be at the top of the list for this offseason, but things may have taken a turn for the better.
According to Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star, veteran running back Travis Etienne has interest in taking his talents to Kansas City. He's slated to be an unrestricted free agent, allowing the Chiefs to sign him when the league year opens on March 11.
While the Chiefs still have some maneuvering to create enough cap space to sign Etienne, the idea of him joining Kansas City would immediately change their plans with the ninth overall pick, allowing them pick the best player on the board.
Etienne’s Desire to Join Chiefs Will Make Their Choice at No. 9 Clear
Etienne is hitting the open market after spending the last four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has been a productive dual-threat playmaker in the backfield with three 1,000-yard campaigns under his belt. In 66 career games, the Clemson product has 3,798 rushing yards, 1,338 receiving yards, and 32 total touchdowns. He's just 27 years old and entering the prime of his career.
Spotrac projects his market value at a two-year, $13.6 million deal ($6.8 million per season), which is very easy to stomach. If the Chiefs sign Etienne, it would put to rest the idea of them drafting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love.
Instead, they could focus on drafting the best defensive player available to infuse that side of the ball with talent. The first name that would be intriguing is Rueben Bain Jr. from Miami. He's listed at 6'3, 275 pounds, and has a relentless motor.
Bain Jr. has quickness, strength, and is physical at the point of attack. He has a great bend that allows him to get around tackles to generate pressure. In 38 collegiate games, Bain Jr. had 121 total tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, and 20.5 sacks.
The biggest critique around Bain is his arm length (30 3/4"), which teams believe will give him problems at the next level, but he's a true game wrecker.
Another player the Chiefs could consider is Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. He's easily one of the best prospects in this entire class, but since he plays safety, he may slide down draft boards. Kansas City would be thrilled if he were an option at No. 9, to say the least. Downs has an outstanding IQ, allowing him to quickly diagnose route concepts to make a break on the ball.
He's so versatile that he can line up at slot, free, or strong safety if needed. Downs has no problems playing man or zone, and many draft experts believe he'll be a Pro Bowl-caliber player in the NFL. Over 44 games with Ohio State and Alabama, Downs had 164 total tackles, 16 TFLs, 12 pass breakups, and six interceptions.
If they wanted to add more playmakers on offense, Arizona State receiver Jordyn Tyson would be an interesting prospect. His medicals will have to clear, as he tore his ACL in 2022, broke his collarbone in 2024, and had hamstring problems in 2025. Nonetheless, when healthy, he moves differently at the position.
Tyson is very twitchy, which allows him to create separation with ease against both man and zone. He can line up wherever he's needed with terrific body control. In 33 college games, Tyson had 158 catches, 2,282 receiving yards, and 22 touchdowns.
There's a lot that will change between free agency and the draft, but if the Chiefs were able to sign Etienne in free agency, they can take the best player at No. 9, making them a better team as a whole.