![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) walks off the field after losing to the Bills during an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_28,w_3099,h_1743/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/220/01kj0fcps296k2mbm6w3.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) walks off the field after losing to the Bills during an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. Bills lead 10-7 at the half over the Jaguars. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]")
Of all the issues the Kansas City Chiefs faced during their disastrous 2025 campaign, the lack of anything resembling an effective ground game is at the top of the list of things to address heading into next season.
With Isiah Pacheco looking much more like a depth piece than a featured back, Kareem Hunt on the wrong side of 30 years old, and Brashard Smith going through the type of rookie pains fans typically see out of Day 3 draft picks, Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy know there needs to be a significant upgrade in talent at that spot, whether that comes through free agency or the draft.
While some pundits had already turned their attention to whether Kansas City would use the No. 9 overall pick on Notre Dame Fighting Irish star Jeremiyah Love, Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star threw a new name into the conversation on Friday night.
According to Sweeney, soon-to-be free agent running back Travis Etienne has "legitimate interest" in signing with Kansas City this offseason. Not only would such a signing open up the draft board for the Chiefs at No. 9, but it would also provide the offense with a proven feature back who can be dependably leaned on while star QB Patrick Mahomes works his way back to the huddle from the ACL injury that prematurely ended his 2025 campaign.
Etienne Must Be Kansas City's Top Target In FA After Latest Reporting
While Love may wind up being the next big thing to enter the league out of the college ranks, the same was said about Ashton Jeanty entering the 2025 campaign. Instead, the Las Vegas Raiders rookie proved by averaging 3.7 yards per carry, and failing to cross the 1,000-yard plateau despite appearing in all 17 games, that you can only rely so heavily on a rookie at that spot.
Etienne has more miles on his body at this point, but he has proven he can be an effective rusher and receiver out of the backfield over his four seasons as a pro, racking up 1,399 all-purpose yards or more in three of his four campaigns with Jacksonville. Having a player like that next to a dynamic playmaker like Mahomes, once the signal caller is back to full health, would be enough to give opposing defense coordinators nightmares.
Spotrac projects Etienne's market value this offseason to be in the range of a two-year, $13.6 million deal. Kansas City should be able to make an offer of that sort, assuming it can clear more cap space between now and March 11. If Etienne's interest in the Chiefs is as legitimate as Sweeney suggests, this is as close to a no-brainer first target for Kansas City will ever have to start free agency.