NFL Draft 2020: Travis Etienne decides to return to Clemson

The 2020 NFL Draft class will be quite a bit weaker with news that Travis Etienne has decided to return for one more year at Clemson.

While it’s already early for NFL Draft season and coverage, many mocks have already featured the Kansas City Chiefs linked with a top running back prospect in Clemson’s Travis Etienne, Jr. As it turns out, that won’t even be a possibility for those in favor of a first-round back or against it given the news that Etienne has decided to return back to Clemson for one more run at a national championship.

Etienne made his announcement on Friday via Twitter when he said, “I look forward to earning my degree from this great university and continuing to fight with my brothers on the team to make you proud during the 2020 season.”

Etienne was considered one of the top available backs in this draft, had he declared to come out for the National Football League early, and was typically given a first or second round grade by draft analysts. With another year of production and development, Etienne will certainly cement his standing and perhaps raise the floor on that draft grade

Etienne, a 5’10, 210 lb. back, rushed for 1,614 yards this season for the Tigers and put up 19 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 4 touchdowns among his 37 catches. He had a total of 2,036 yards from scrimmage on the year.

For the Chiefs, the loss of Etienne in this draft class removes a great prospect at a position of need. The team will lose LeSean McCoy as a free agent and Damien Williams will enter his final year under contract in 2020. Even then, despite the return of Darrel Williams and Darwin Thompson, the position has lacked a high-end ceiling since Kareem Hunt was released late in the 2018 regular season.