Former Clemson running back Travis Etienne chimed in last week on the current state of the running back market in the NFL.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Etienne gave his thoughts on why NFL teams are not giving running backs big contracts.
“The market is what the market is,” Etienne said. “For me to go out there and get the best deal for myself, I have to come out here and work hard each and every day. If I don’t produce or be productive, I am not going to even be in that conversation when they are looking to pay me. The best thing I can do is win games for my football team.”
The former four-star recruit also added that running backs need to have a wide range of skill sets if they want to be paid like other positions.
“It kind of depends on the type of back you are,” Etienne said. “You see, some backs get paid, like Christian McCaffrey. He catches the ball out of the backfield. For running backs moving forward, you have to diversify the game. You have to be more than just a downhill bruiser in order to talk leverage.”
After missing his rookie season due to injury, Etienne had a breakout second season in the NFL in 2022, rushing for 1,125 yards and five touchdowns on 220 carries. He is now entering the third season of his four-year rookie contract, with a fifth-year option available if the Jaguars decide to exercise it.
Etienne was one of the college football’s top dual-threats when he played at Clemson from 2017-2020, rushing for 3,338 yards and recording 1,155 receiving yards. He finished his career as a Tiger as the ACC’s all-time leading rusher.
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