Jaguars Newcomer Carrying Weight of Underwhelming Offseason
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. was the team's one meaningful acquisition of the offseason.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to bid farewell to Travis Etienne Jr. ahead of the 2026 season. The decision to move on was not taken lightly, as Etienne had been a crucial player for the team, amassing at least 1,400 scrimmage yards, 250 total touches, and scoring five touchdowns over three of his four seasons between 2022-2025.
The decision was made easier due to Etienne signing a lucrative four-year, $47.4 million contract with the New Orleans Saints, leaving the Jaguars with limited options. In their efforts to replace Etienne, the Jaguars have focused heavily on their recent draft picks, Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen, as well as the addition of free agent Chris Rodriguez Jr. Rodriguez stands out among the new additions, with his impressive stats and success in the NFL.
The Jaguars committed to Rodriguez in a two-year, $10 million contract for the 2025 season, as they deemed him the only one they felt comfortable investing in. Rodriguez's success under head coach Liam Coen at Kentucky, where he gained 1,379 yards and scored 12 touchdowns, sets the expectation that he and the other running backs can help replicate Etienne's production in 2026.
While Rodriguez may not replace Etienne one-for-one, he is expected to contribute significantly to the team's offense and help compensate for the loss of Etienne's production.
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