The Jaguars came close but didn’t reset the NFL’s quarterback and edge rusher markets this offseason by paying Trevor Lawrence and Joshua Hines-Allen.
The $55 million average annual value of Lawrence’s five-year, $275 million contract extension is tied for the highest in NFL history, with Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow. Hines-Allen’s $28.3 million average annual value ranks No. 2 at his position, behind San Francisco’s Nick Bosa ($34 million).
Looking forward to the 2025 offseason, Bleacher Report analyst Maurice Moton predicts the Jaguars could sign a player to top-dollar relative to their position, by extending running back Travis Etienne Jr.
If Etienne were to sign a new contract next year, it would be with Jacksonville or following a trade to another team. The Jaguars picked up his fifth-year option for the 2025 season in April, worth $6.1 million fully guaranteed.
Moton argued that Etienne, 25, is better equipped to earn a big payday than Cleveland’s four-time Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb, a looming free agent who is 29 and tore the ACL in his left knee last September.
Moton also pointed to Etienne’s receiving ability as a bargaining chip for his contract negotiations.
After Etienne sat out his entire rookie campaign with a foot injury, he’s bounced back with 1,400-plus scrimmage yards in consecutive terms. Between 2022 and 2023, Etienne saw a drop-off in his rushing yards per game, but he more than doubled his touchdown total in the same time span.
Last year, the Jacksonville Jaguars turned the ball over at an alarming rate, particularly in the second half of the campaign, which contributed to their late-season slide. Head coach Doug Pederson called out quarterback Trevor Lawrence for his poor ball security.
This offseason, the Jaguars signed Lawrence to a market-setting contract that’s equal to Joe Burrow’s deal in total value. However, Jacksonville may take a more conservative approach on offense to protect the ball, which could result in a heavier workload for Etienne.
If Etienne has a more efficient year than the last running the ball, he will get the big bucks heading into his 2025 option year.
Contract: Three years, $58 million ($25 million guaranteed)
$19.3 million per year in average annual value, what Moton’s projection equates to, would surpass Christian McCaffrey’s $19 million per year with San Francisco to make Etienne the NFL’s highest-paid running back by that measure, per Over the Cap.
$25 million guaranteed would rank No. 4 among current running back contracts if the metric were total guarantees, and No. 2 if it were full guarantees.
Jacksonville’s second first-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft — following his college teammate, Lawrence — Etienne has rushed 487 times for 2,133 yards and 16 touchdowns in 34 games with the Jaguars. He’s added 93 receptions for 792 yards and one touchdown.