The latest news on the free agent running back market will likely affect Travis Etienne of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
New York Jets general manager Darren Mougey told reporters at Tuesday’s NFL Combine that if the team can’t reach a new deal with free agent running back Breece Hall, they will use the franchise tag to prevent him from hitting the open market.
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If the Jets and Hall can’t agree on a new contract and use the franchise tag, there will be one less running back on the free agent market. Hall is also considered one of the best free agent linebackers this year, ranking No. 2 in PFF’s position group.
For Etienne, if Hall can’t be pursued by other teams, his market will likely grow. Etienne ranks just behind Hall in PFF’s rankings and could be considered the second-best running back in free agency this offseason.
In this case, more teams may look at Etienne, his value may increase, and it may become more difficult to retain him if the Jaguars want to do so.
The running back market has shrunk a bit as the Cowboys re-signed Javonte Williams.
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As of now, PFF projects Etienne’s next contract to be worth $11.5 million per year.
Etienne was a big part of the Jaguars’ offense last season, but he could certainly go elsewhere this offseason and earn more as a free agent with a new team.
With Jacksonville currently facing a tight salary cap situation, James Gladstone did have a plan for the upcoming free agency period, using two draft picks last April to select Bashur Tuten and LeQuonte Allen, both of whom filled the RB2 role behind Etienne as rookies.
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Breece Hall’s contract situation with Jets affects Jaguars’ Travis Etienne
