The Denver Broncos believed they had their running back solution locked up, but then the New Orleans Saints swooped in.
Denver thought it had Travis Etienne Jr. headed to Colorado until New Orleans landed the former Jacksonville Jaguars back on a four-year, $48 million deal. The surprise move forced the Broncos to pivot, ultimately leading them to re-sign J.K. Dobbins to a two-year, $16 million contract instead.
Broncos ‘Shocked’ by Travis Etienne Jr.’s Move to the Saints
The Broncos had every reason to feel confident in their pursuit. Denver came off a 14-3 season that ended in a loss in the AFC Championship Game, representing a return to contender status after years in the wilderness.
In a recent article for The Athletic, Mike Sando reported that an NFL executive described how the Broncos were surprised by Etienne’s move to the Saints.
“Another exec said the Broncos thought they were going to sign former Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, only to have the Saints land him instead,” Sando wrote. “They were shocked,” the executive added about the running back’s decision.
It’s not hard to understand Denver’s frustration, given that Etienne’s production with Jacksonville made him an ideal fit for Sean Payton’s offense.
He finished 2025 with 1,107 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 260 carries while adding 36 catches for 292 receiving yards and six scores. That dual-threat ability would have paired perfectly with a Broncos attack that sputtered when Dobbins went down with a Lisfranc injury in Week 10.
The numbers after Dobbins’ absence were stark. Denver’s running backs generated a -0.07 EPA per carry through the first 10 weeks, ranking 14th in the NFL.
From Week 11 through the regular season finale, that figure plummeted to -0.14 EPA per carry, tied for 25th. Their rush yards over expected dropped from +0.9 to -0.7 over the same span. Etienne’s workload capacity and receiving chops would have provided the insurance Denver clearly needed.
According to PFSN’s RB Impact Metric, Etienne finished last season as the 25th-ranked running back in the league with an impact score of 61.7. In comparison, Dobbins was ranked 33rd with an impact score of 57.6.
Etienne Returns to Louisiana While Broncos Rely on J.K. Dobbins’ Health
New Orleans made the call home too appealing for Etienne to ignore. The Jennings, Louisiana, native returns to the Bayou to lead a backfield in transition.
Alvin Kamara, limited to 11 games and a career-low 471 rushing yards in 2025 due to an MCL sprain, faces an uncertain future at 30 years old. Kellen Moore has said he “plans” to use both backs, but teams have already inquired about Kamara’s availability.
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Denver, meanwhile, doubled down on familiarity. Dobbins averaged 5.0 yards per carry in 10 games before his injury, generating 772 yards and four touchdowns. The talent has never been questioned, but the durability has.
He’s never played a full 17-game season in his NFL career. The Broncos are betting their player wellness program can change that pattern. The running back room behind Dobbins includes second-year back RJ Harvey, Tyler Badie, and Jaleel McLaughlin. None profile as a true RB1 if Dobbins misses time again.
Denver traded its first-round pick to Miami for Jaylen Waddle, leaving limited draft capital to address the position. The Broncos gave up the 30th overall selection along with their third- and fourth-round picks in the Waddle deal, narrowing their options if they want to add backfield depth in April.
Losing Etienne won’t derail Denver’s Super Bowl aspirations. But it does leave the Broncos one Dobbins injury away from the same problem that haunted their playoff run.
