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The Washington Commanders are a fit for a “dynamic,” 1,000-yard playmaker in 2026 NFL free agency.
Putting more playmakers around Jayden Daniels must be near the top of the list of offseason priorities for the Washington Commanders, so it makes sense they are fit for a “dynamic” skill player in 2026 NFL free agency, who topped 1,000 yards last season.
It’s Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr., “a dynamic back with sharp jump cuts who has also improved as a downhill runner, showing a willingness to lower his shoulder into contact and churn his legs to pick up extra yards,” according to The Ringer’s Austin Gayle.
What Gayle sees in Etienne is a versatile weapon able to share the backfield with Daniels. Somebody who could help Washington’s QB1 the way he helped Jags’ signal-caller Trevor Lawrence as a breakaway runner, useful pass-catcher and competent pass-protector.
Etienne qualifies because he “can run well through arm tackles and always seems to be falling forward, and once he breaks into the second level of the defense, he has the speed to open up his stride in space.”
An added bonus would come from Etienne’s value to the passing game. As Gayle pointed out, the 27-year-old “has also caught at least 39 passes for 250-plus receiving yards in each of the past four seasons, and he ranked second among running backs (behind Christian McCaffrey) in receiving touchdowns this season, with seven.”
Those qualities elevate Etienne into a pay bracket on a par with the MVP of Super Bowl LX. The Commanders have the money, but they may need to beat another Super Bowl winner to secure Etienne’s signature.
Travis Etienne Worth MVP Money
Gayle used Seattle Seahawks running back Kenneth Walker III, the most-productive player in last season’s Super Bowl, as the benchmark for Etienne’s likely market. As Gayle put it, “Etienne is two years older than Kenneth Walker, which could be a reason for teams to offer him a shorter free agent contract. He could command an average salary similar to Walker’s next deal, in the range of $10 million to $13 million per year.”
Etienne’s three seasons with over 1,000 yards on the ground are worth Commanders general manager Adam Peters parting with some of the $67,800,355 worth of space under the salary cap, per Spotrac.com.
Signing Etienne would give the Commanders a speedster who can find the end zone in both phases of the offense. Just like the former Clemson star did on this 45-yard scoring catch and run to cap a hat-trick of touchdowns against the New York Jets back in Week 15.
Having a back capable of staying on the field all three downs fits with how the Commanders are changing their offense around Daniels.
Commanders Can Alter Backfield for New Jayden Daniels Offense
Etienne isn’t the only 1,000-yard back the Commanders have been named a fit for in free agency. Acquiring a new workhorse may seem like a luxury when the Commanders already have useful young runners Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr., but changes are still needed in the backfield.
Those changes stem from new offensive coordinator David Blough’s plans for Daniels. Blough wants the star quarterback in a different alignment this year, one that better disguises run or pass intent and therefore helps talented backs to thrive.
Committing to a marquee running back would double down on how the Commanders are altering their formations. Choosing Etienne would also mean giving Daniels an invaluable ally in the passing game.
James Dudko covers the New York Giants, Washington Commanders, New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens for Heavy.com. He has covered the NFL and world soccer since 2011, with bylines at FanSided, Prime Time Sports Talk and Bleacher Report before joining Heavy in 2021. More about James Dudko
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