Etienne gone, the Jaguars' backfield faces a gaping void. Can Rachaad White fill the immense production gap and revive Jacksonville's rushing attack?
Travis Etienne plans to sign a 4-year, $52 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, according to multiple reports from Monday, ending a five-year stint with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Etienne became available following Jacksonville's decision to withhold the franchise tag from both Etienne and linebacker Devin Lloyd, who Monday signed a three-year, $45 million deal with the Carolina Panthers.
Lloyd and Etienne were arguably the two biggest free-agent targets for the Jaguars to re-sign, but ultimately, they both moved on from the team that drafted them.
Losing Etienne forms a big hole in Jacksonville's backfield -- a position from which Etienne has produced three 1.000-plus yard rushing performances in the past four seasons.
Since entering the league in 2021, Etienne's 5,136 yards from scrimmage ranks 13th in the NFL over that span, doing so despite missing all of his rookie season with a Lisfranc injury.
Without Etienne and at this early stage of 2026, the Jaguars have tailbacks Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen Jr. and Deejay Dallas under contract. Last season, this trio saw limited work, combining for 108 carries for just 422 yards.
Tuten got the majority of the RB2 work, rushing for 307 yards and five touchdowns. The rookie out of Virginia Tech also flashed receiving ability, adding 10 receptions for 79 yards and two additional scores.
However, Tuten alone will not be able to fill the void left by Etienne's departure.
Former Buccaneers running back Rachaad White has been one guy linked to Jacksonville due to his connection to head coach Liam Coen.
White’s best statistical season came in 2023, when Coen was the Bucs' Offensive Coordinator. The Arizona State product combined for more than 1,500 yards in 17 starts, racking up 990 rushing yards and 549 receiving yards with nine total touchdowns.
The emergence of Bucs running back Bucky Irving seemingly pushed White out of Tampa Bay, as he looks for a larger role.
Tuesday morning, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo praised White in an episode of "Free-Agent Frenzy."
“And I’ve always watched Rachaad White down there in Tampa, and I thought he was underutilized,” Garafolo said. “I always thought he was one of the best running backs that the Buccaneers have had in recent memory.
White would alleviate some pressure on Tuten going into his second season, stepping back into a lead back role under Coen. He and Tuten would have trouble matching Etienne's prolific production, but would still form a solid 1-2 punch with ability in the pass game.
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