The Kansas City Chiefs‘ offseason has already taken on a decidedly different feel than in years past.
With free agency less than three weeks away, whispers of a new offensive weapon have turned into a topic of serious league-wide discussion: star Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. appears poised to be one of the most intriguing names on the open market, and there’s growing indication that he could be headed to Missouri.
The fire under those discussions was stoked in recent days when Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Etienne Jr. drew attention with a subtle social-media interaction that had fans buzzing.
While a follow on Instagram doesn’t constitute a contract negotiation, it did bring into sharp focus what many NFL observers have been hinting at behind the scenes: Etienne is paying attention to Kansas City, and so is Mahomes.
According to beat reporter Pete Sweeney of The Kansas City Star, Etienne Jr. has “legitimate interest” in joining the Chiefs once he becomes a free agent on March 11.
Coming from a respected veteran insider, the comment marks a shift from generic rumor chatter to a potentially meaningful recruitment narrative as the league’s official free agency period looms.
For Chiefs fans and front-office strategists, the timing couldn’t be more consequential.
Kansas City‘s backfield was far from dominant in 2025, with both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco set to hit free agency themselves.
In a season where the team finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs for the first time in over a decade, bolstering the ground game has risen up the priority list.
Etienne‘s combination of rushing ability and receiving production, he posted 1,107 rushing yards, seven rushing touchdowns, and career highs as a pass catcher last year, would immediately upgrade a unit that struggled for consistency.
What the Chiefs roster needs
Signing Etienne Jr. would be a statement about where the Chiefs see themselves heading after their first down year in a decade.
First, the backfield question: Kansas City‘s run game lagged much of last season, ranking toward the lower tier of the league in production.
Adding a dual-threat runner in Etienne could help open up play-action and take pressure off Mahomes in critical parts of games.
The Chiefs also took deliberate steps to create flexibility, restructuring Mahomes‘ contract and freeing up significant cap space to pursue impact players.
That doesn’t guarantee a deal, but it does suggest Kansas City is willing to invest in top free agents if the situation aligns.
Etienne‘s free agency status, combined with Jacksonville‘s cap challenges and draft plans, including new backfield additions, increases the likelihood he’ll field offers from multiple contenders, not just the Chiefs.
Teams such as the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints have also been mentioned as potential suitors, though none have tied the narrative together quite like Kansas City.
For Mahomes, the prospect of adding a dynamic piece like Etienne carries tangible appeal as he works his way back from injury and the franchise seeks to rebound.
Chiefs fans remember how a versatile backfield can complement a pass-heavy attack, and Etienne‘s ability in both the run and pass game ticks a lot of boxes.
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