Making Sense of Every NFL Backfield After 2024 NFL Draft

The Jacksonville Jaguars backfield should look a lot like it did in 2023, as the team’s top three producers—Travis Etienne Jr., Tank Bigsby and D’Ernest Johnson—are back.

Etienne, who tallied 1,484 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns in 2023, is the clear lead back in Jacksonville. He’s one of the better dual threats in the league and should continue to thrive alongside former Clemson teammate and quarterback Trevor Lawrence.

Lawrence, it should be noted, ranked second on the team behind Etienne in rushing yards last season.

Bigsby and Johnson were largely reserve options in 2023, and it’s clear that Jacksonville would prefer to find more—or, perhaps, simply better—depth. The offense ranked just 30th in yards per carry last season.

The Jags added Texas product Keilan Robinson in the fifth round before signing Akron’s Lorenzo Lingard and Villanova’s Jalen Jackson as undrafted free agents.

Robinson, Lingard and Jackson will all have chances to unseat Johnson, who is back on a modest one-year, $1.3 million deal that only includes $225,000 guaranteed. Bigbsy, a 2023 third-round pick, should have a secure roster spot and could see an expanded role in Year 2.

However, Etienne should again be the focal point of Jacksonville’s backfield a year after playing 73 percent of the offensive snaps.