The Carolina Panthers extended Chuba Hubbard in November, added 1,000-yard rusher Rico Dowdle in free agency, await a rehab stint for last year’s second-round pick, Jonathon Brooks, and still have Raheem Blackshear. That did not stop them from taking advantage of a deep running back class when they selected Trevor Etienne (Florida, Georgia) in the fourth round, No. 144 overall.

Etienne joins his brother, Travis (RB – JAX), in the NFL, though the younger sibling has a tougher road to NFL and fantasy relevance. He lacks some of the speed and power that Travis demonstrated when he took over the starting gig in Jacksonville. More telling is that Trevor is a less-efficient version of his older brother; that’s saying a lot as Travis is far from among the most efficient in the league.

Most concerning is Etienne’s path to playing time. Dowdle is on a one-year contract, but when he becomes a free agent, Brooks should have turned the corner from his ACL rehab. Hubbard is entrenched as the starter after an impressive 2024, leaving Etienne staring at third on the depth chart for the foreseeable future, barring an amazing camp.

Etienne wrapped his three-year career with 2,081 yards on the ground while catching 62 passes. He tacked on a booking for Driving Under the Influence and three other charges in 2024, leading some to question his character.

Author: Sam Schneider (@BuyAndSellYou)