Top Travis Etienne Free Agent Destinations, Ranked

The 2026 free agent class is loaded at running back, and former first-round pick Travis Etienne is one of the biggest names in the bunch. While he’s no Super Bowl MVP, the Clemson product is coming off arguably the best season of his career with first-year head coach Liam Coen. Starting and appearing in all 17 games, the running back finished his fourth season with 1,107 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 260 attempts while adding another 36 receptions for 292 yards and six touchdowns through the air.

While he hasn’t been the most consistent player throughout his career, a healthy version of Travis Etienne is one of the better workhorse backs in the league. The running back position isn’t as valued as it used to be, but he should still have a decent market and receive a respectable contract from one of the following running back-needy teams.

3 Teams That Could Sign Free Agent Travis Etienne, Ranked

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers got by with the duo of Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren last year, but neither player is a particularly special talent. Gainwell had the year of his life, but he’s a free agent himself and could leave for a bigger contract. Even if he returns, last year was probably an outlier, and he’ll return to his usual form.

Third-round pick Kaleb Johnson, meanwhile, had a disastrous rookie season and looked terrible during his limited opportunities. Maybe he can turn it around, but the organization shouldn’t bank on it. Signing Travis Etienne will give the Steelers a legitimate three-down talent leading the backfield, which is crucial for a team that probably won’t have a great quarterback under center.

2. Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs have not had a good starting running back since the original Kareem Hunt days. Clyde Edwards-Helaire was a bust, and while seventh-round pick Isiah Pacheco had his moments early in his career, he hasn’t done much of anything the past two seasons. This team needs a real starting-caliber running back, especially since Patrick Mahomes will probably need time to look like himself after tearing his ACL. Travis Etienne isn’t the best running back on the open market, but he’s an above-average starter and may come relatively cheap, which is a good thing for a team currently $11 million over the salary cap.

1. New Orleans Saints

New Orleans Saints second-round pick Tyler Shough looked like the real deal last year, and the team could compete in the weak NFC South if he makes the Year 2 leap. However, the Saints must build up his supporting cast, and that could include moving on from a franchise legend in Alvin Kamara. Kamara was arguably the NFL’s best running back at his peak, but age has caught up to the former third-round pick. Kamara looked like a shell of himself last year and finished the season with a 51.7 PFF grade, the worst mark of all eligible running backs. Travis Etienne would be an immediate upgrade and the free agent could help the Saints make the playoffs for the first time since the Drew Brees Era.

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