Veteran beat writer confirms suspicions that dual-threat free agent has ‘legitimate interest’ in joining Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to be linked to Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency.

Charles Goldman — NFL Managing Editor
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News, reports, and rumors surrounding the Kansas City Chiefs are about to heat up as the entire league descends on Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine.

With the annual event days away, KC Star beat writer Pete Sweeney shared the latest scoop on the team regarding a pending free agent who has often been linked to the Chiefs since the 2025 NFL season ended.

“Ahead of Combine week, I’m hearing there’s legitimate interest from Travis Etienne to come to KC,” Sweeney wrote on X. “Etienne’s due to become a UFA on 3/11, and the Chiefs need a running back. We’ll see.”

It should come as no surprise that K.C. is being connected to a running back ahead of the free agency period. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt are both free agents, and the position group just generally needs a ton of work.

The idiom that most applies here, with Etienne, in particular: Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

Travis Etienne Jr. to the Chiefs might end up as the worst-kept secret of combine week

The smoke around Etienne to the Chiefs has grown over the past several weeks, and it feels like it’ll only start to heat up once the combine begins.

ESPN’s Eric Moody predicted the Chiefs would sign Travis Etienne Jr. in free agency over a week ago. His colleague Matt Bowen named Etienne as the top free agent fit for Kansas City this past week. Our own staff at A to Z Sports picked Etienne as a top fit for the Chiefs.

“Travis Etienne doesn’t get talked about like one of the best RBs in the league, but when you look at his numbers since being drafted by the Jaguars, you see how impressive he has been. For example, he’s crossed 1,000 rushing yards in three of his four seasons and has two years of 10 or more total touchdowns, as well. 

He now has the chance to cash in after a 2025 season that featured a career-high 13 total touchdowns. Etienne is a dual-threat back who has game-changing potential for whichever team he lands with. I’m sure the Jaguars will do everything in their power to keep him in Duvall. – Destin Adams“

Chiefs RBs under contract for 2026

  • Brashard Smith
  • ShunDerrick Powell

Etienne has two things going for him that players like Kenneth Walker or Breece Hall don’t have: Experience and production in Andy Reid’s system.

Former Chiefs OC Doug Pederson was Etienne’s head coach and offensive playcaller with the Jacksonville Jaguars for the first three seasons of his NFL career. During that span, Etienne started 44 games with 637 carries for 2,691 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. He caught 132 passes for 1,046 yards and one receiving TD. In total, Etienne averaged 4.9 yards per touch.

The other aspect that makes Etienne such an intriguing option for Kansas City is his ability in pass protection. He’s coming off the best season in his NFL career as a pass-blocker, with just five total pressures and no sacks on 83 pass-blocking attempts. With Pacheco and Hunt as free agents, the Chiefs need to replace that element in their offense.

As Sweeney says in his report, Etienne won’t become a free agent until March 11. The Chiefs won’t be able to officially negotiate with him until the legal tampering period begins. There’s a lot that can still happen between now and free agency that could prevent a deal. However, the interest is palpable and very likely mutual.

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