![Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) is tackled by Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'davious White (27) during the third quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_0,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/15/01kmpasz7ndnmygh29zr.jpg "Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) is tackled by Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'davious White (27) during the third quarter of an NFL football AFC Wild Card playoff matchup, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Bills defeated the Jaguars 27-24. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]")
Not only was Travis Etienne one of the New Orleans Saints biggest signings of the offseason, it's viewed as one of the best signings around the league. The impact of the pick up and the talent of the player himself creates a great blend and landed him the eighth spot in free agency ratings.
The NFL saw a wave of major roster transactions during the first two weeks of free agency, with teams making impactful additions through both signings and trades. NFL.com columnist Jeffri Chadhia broke down the best 10 moves during the period, highlighting transactions that could lead to the biggest impact in 2026.
“The best way to make life easier for second-year quarterback is to give him what New Orleans lacked last season: a viable running game. After the Saints ranked 28th in rushing yards, a new back was bound to arrive this offseason, one way or another, and Etienne makes sense on a lot of levels. He rushed for at least 1,000 yards in three of his four NFL seasons in Jacksonville. He set a career high in total touchdowns in 2025, with 13 (seven on the ground, six through the air), and he's always been a reliable weapon in the passing game (168 career receptions).”
New Orleans Saints confident they struck gold with Travis Etienne
The Saints clearly shared Chadhia’s evaluation, believing they secured strong on field production at great value with their new running back addition. After several seasons of inconsistent efficiency and limited production at the position, the Saints were in clear need of an upgrade and they addressed it by bringing Etienne in.
Etienne's explosiveness, versatility as both a runner and pass catcher and ability to create chunk plays out the backfield are exactly why the move earned a spot in the rankings. He brings big play potential and a dynamic element to the offense that could immediately elevate the Saints rushing attack and overall offensive rhythm.
If Etienne delivers on that potential, this addition won’t just justify its ranking. It could become the defining move of the Saints offseason. With his ability to impact the game in multiple ways, Etienne has a real shot at reshaping the identity of the offense and providing the consistent spark the team has been searching for.