Chiefs rumor reveals free-agent running back's interest in playing for Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs need help at running back this offseason and there's reportedly one free-agent running back who has his eye on KC.

According to Pete Sweeney of the Kansas City Star, the Chiefs are drawing interest from Jacksonville Jaguars pending free-agent running back Travis Etienne.

"Ahead of Combine week, I’m hearing there’s legitimate interest from Travis Etienne to come to KC. Etienne’s due to become a UFA on 3/11, and the Chiefs need a running back. We’ll see," Sweeney wrote.

While it remains to be seen if the interest is mutual, we do know the Chiefs need help at running back, as both Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco are pending free agents and Kansas City should be looking for an upgrade.

However, the Chiefs are also in a tough financial spot and Etienne figures to be costly on the open market because he's one of the better options available at running back.

Even after the restructure of Patrick Mahomes' contract, the Chiefs are still $11 million over the salary cap.

Spotrac projects Etienne to land a contract that pays him $13.6 million over two years, but we tend to believe he'll get more than that after posting three strong campaigns in Jacksonville over four seasons.

We find it hard to believe the Chiefs are going to spend a significant amount of money on a free-agent running back, especially if Kansas City views this as a transition year.

But if Etienne comes at a reasonable enough price, it's not outlandish to think he could end up in Kansas City in 2026.

More NFL News

• Romeo Doubs update is bad news for wide receiver's future in Green Bay
• Geno Smith's cryptic tweet has Raiders fans wondering if the end is near
• Patriots make classy $400,000 decision on wide receiver Mack Hollins
• Tyler Linderbaum rumor is bad news for Ravens' hopes of keeping him
• Browns free agent's announcement is good news for Giants, Lions, Raiders