Jaguars' star running back Travis Etienne Jr. could be heading to Kansas City. A top free agent, Etienne offers a versatile, high-volume threat for the Chiefs' offense.
The Kansas City Chiefs have the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In all honesty, it is very strange to see the Chiefs picking in the top-10, especially in the past decade.
Yet, here we are. Until the NFL Draft takes place in April, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love will be a player commonly linked to the Chiefs, and for good reason.
ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. is head over heels for Love, and with the revolving door at the RB position lately for Kansas City, adding an every-down star such as Love would make a lot of sense for Andy Reid and new (but returning) offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.
Of course, NFL free agency will likely indicate what teams do in the NFL Draft, and Alex Kay of Bleacher Report predicted the Chiefs to sign Jacksonville Jaguars star RB Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency.
ESPN has Etienne as one of the top free agents in this upcoming cycle, so he is a player who could garner a ton of interest.
Isaiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt averaged less than four yards per carry, and seventh-round rookie Brashard Smith even saw more playing time towards the end of the season.
Etienne was selected in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Jaguars, but he missed his entire rookie season due to a Lisfranc injury.
When healthy, Etienne is a workhorse and a versatile player. He has missed just two regular-season games since the rookie campaign.
And, he has three 1,000-yard seasons, including 1,107 yards with seven touchdowns in 2025 with Liam Coen as the head coach.
Etienne also has 50 or more targets in three of four seasons, and he had 58 catches for 476 yards in 2023.
In 2025, Etienne had a career-high six receiving touchdowns, so he is a player who can catch passes and handle a bulk of carries, which could be a perfect addition to the Chiefs' offense.
Etienne was far and away the best ball carrier in Jacksonville in 2025, and quarterback Trevor Lawrence was second in both yards (359) and touchdowns (2,) with Etienne leading comfortably in every category.
While the Jaguars losing Etienne woud be a tough blow, his going to the Chiefs would be even more difficult, but it could be a smart decision for Kansas City if it prefers to use that top-10 pick to address another pressing need on the roster.