Broncos Were ‘Shocked’ Travis Etienne Signed Elsewhere?

The Broncos were tied to Breece Hall, with a previous report indicating the Jets slapped the franchise tag on their four-year starter in part to avoid a potential bidding war with Denver. Travis Etienne then brought connections to the Broncos, who indeed pursued the five-year Jaguar. The Saints, however, ended up signing the former first-round pick on a four-year, $48MM deal that included $24MM guaranteed at signing.

Etienne’s full guarantee ranks fifth among RBs, and it would stand to reason the Broncos — as they did with 2025 Saints signee Juwan Johnson — helped drive this market. The Broncos were “shocked” Etienne went elsewhere rather than signing with them, an NFL exec informed The Athletic’s Mike Sando.

Had Etienne accepted the Broncos’ offer, he would have been positioned as the starter in a tandem with RJ Harvey. Although Etienne joined a Saints team still rostering Alvin Kamara, it is far from certain the former Pro Bowler will be part of New Orleans’ roster for a 10th season. The Saints have Kendre Miller and 2025 sixth-rounder Devin Neal rostered as well.

Sean Payton was in charge when the Saints gave Kamara his first extension — a five-year, $75MM pact in 2020 — and he also signed off on the team re-signing Mark Ingram in 2015. The Broncos have a recent history with lower-cost or rookie-deal backs, with Dobbins playing for barely $2MM last season. Denver let Javonte Williams walk prior to signing Dobbins. Before Dobbins’ second deal with the team, Denver’s most notable RB contract came when Melvin Gordon signed a two-year, $16MM deal in 2020. The Gordon contract did not pan out, and while neither Payton nor GM George Paton was in place when that contract was finalized, it certainly appears the current Broncos regime were prepared to make a sizable investment.

It just does not look like the Broncos offered $24MM guaranteed at signing. As it stands, Dobbins and Harvey will reprise a 2025 tandem; Denver also retained both Jaleel McLaughlin and Tyler Badie. It remains to be seen whether the Broncos will attempt to add a bigger back in the draft to complement Harvey beyond 2026 and/or serve as Dobbins insurance — which was lacking after the injury-prone back’s Lisfranc injury last year. But such a move would make sense for a Denver team with Super Bowl aspirations and few glaring needs.