Travis Etienne Draft Projection: 5 landing spots for the Clemson RB

After an incredible career, Clemson’s Travis Etienne is firmly in the running to be the first running back selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. As he heads into the draft with a first-round projection, which teams are the best landing spots for Etienne as he begins what is a promising NFL career?

Travis Etienne’s 2021 NFL Draft projection

Etienne is a shifty runner who has otherworldly home-run speed. His burst might be the best we have seen since Chris Johnson. Give him a sliver of daylight, and six points will be added to the scoreboard. He will go down as one of the best collegiate backs in the last decade. Etienne finished his career with 686 carries for 4,952 yards and 70 touchdowns.

He also caught 102 passes for 1,155 and 8 receiving touchdowns in 1,852 career snaps over 55 games. Additionally, Etienne is the NCAA FBS record holder for most career games scoring a touchdown (46). 

Although analytics Twitter and some NFL pundits will tell you running backs don’t matter, playmakers like Etienne are the exception. His dynamic ability and well-rounded skill set are among the many reasons Etienne carries such a high draft projection.

Best landing spots for Travis Etienne

With several teams in the market for a running back, it would not be surprising to see him drafted well inside the first round, presumably as the RB1 in a suitable scheme.

Miami Dolphins

Miami has a luxury most teams do not with multiple first-round picks in 2021. Sure, some fans are anti-RB in Round 1, but Etienne may be enough to sway their mind. Last season, the Dolphins deployed a myriad of rushers before settling on Myles Gaskin. Although he did play well, he is not Miami’s long-term solution. 

Etienne is possibly the best schematic fit for offensive coordinators Eric Studesville and George Godsey. A polished route runner, Tua Tagovailoa would quickly lock in on him underneath and let Etienne make a play. 

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers’ outside-zone rushing scheme under Kyle Shanahan prioritizes speed and burst at the running back position. It’s why you have seen players such as Raheem Mostert, Matt Breida, and Tevin Coleman succeed. The issue is when we look toward the future for the 49ers.

Mostert and Jeff Wilson will be unrestricted free agents next year, while JaMycal Hasty is scheduled to become an exclusive rights free agent. Drafting Etienne would not only be a perfect fit but also a prudent move for long-term success.

After trading up to pick No. 3, San Francisco needs to finagle themselves back into the first round to make this draft projection come to fruition. Still, imagine this for a second. Justin Fields, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Deebo Samuel, and Etienne all on the same offense. How do you even attempt to stop that lethal combination?

New York Jets

Speaking of a Shanahan-style offense, that is exactly what the Jets will begin to run under Robert Saleh. Every point I just made about how Etienne would fit in San Francisco holds true here. There is a distinct lack of competition, though, as Etienne would be the premier RB from Day 1.

In his NFL Draft buzz and rumors article, PFN Chief Draft Analyst and NFL Insider Tony Pauline reported that we can’t count out the New York Jets taking a running back with either the 23rd or 34th pick. They also feel like there is a big drop off after Etienne. 

“I’m told the Jets feel there is a big drop off after Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, and Javonte Williams, all three who they view as plug and play type of ball carriers.”

When you bring in a rookie QB, as is expected with the second overall pick, having a rushing game to rely on is pivotal. Having a back with pass-catching prowess is even better, as knowing the checkdown is always available is a massive bonus. Few backs, if any in the 2021 NFL Draft, fit this opportunity better than Etienne.

Pittsburgh Steelers

James Conner’s signing with Arizona signified the Steelers were going to address the RB position in the draft — it is just a matter of how early. If Etienne is on the board at No. 24, I have a hard time seeing Mike Tomlin and company passing on him. The Steelers completely abandoned the run last season and have no suitable RB1 on the roster. 

The left side of the offensive line is still an issue, but Etienne would be a great addition to the Steelers’ scheme. While Conner did have one stellar season, Pittsburgh has been searching for a bell cow ever since Le’Veon Bell last stepped on the field. Etienne could have a similar career path as Bell and be one of the league’s most targeted backs.

Atlanta Falcons

Under Dan Quinn, the Falcons were one of the most pass-happy teams in the NFL over his tenure. Last season, they ran a passing play on 62.1% of their offensive snaps. With Arthur Smith now as the head coach, I expect this to flip in 2021 and beyond.

The elephant in the room is the difference in styles between Derrick Henry and Etienne. Smith has already acknowledged this by saying Henry is irreplaceable, so he is well aware of needing to adapt his offense to accommodate the next player’s skill set. Although Etienne would not be the traditional workhorse we saw with Henry, Smith’s variety of zone concepts would allow the Clemson star to thrive in Atlanta.

Every once in a while, there are players coaches reshape their offense for — Etienne is one of those players. Should he fall into the second round, the Falcons should pounce at the opportunity to acquire such an explosive athlete.

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Tommy Garrett is a writer for Pro Football Network covering the NFL and fantasy football. You can read more of his work here and follow him at @TommygarrettPFN on Twitter.