If they had the 5th pick, they don’t take Etienne. If they had the 15th pick, they don’t take Etienne. There is probably more variation in talent amongst the beginning of the first and end of the first than there is in any other round. So to compare Etienne to other first round RBs is unfair since he was drafted in the bottom quarter of the round. Maybe McCaffrey isn’t the ideal top 10 pick (although I’d argue he was) but he definitely would have at 25.

Saying all that, the expectations for Etienne should still be really high. And he shouldn’t be thought of as a pure between the tackles RB. I said earlier you don’t draft guys like James Robinson early in the draft. Was a great find for us, love that he is on the team, but he isn’t an elite gamebreaker. He is a very good between the tackles, identify / hit the hole, and consistently pick up yardage. Guys like him are easier to find. Guys that are multi-purpose threats that are real gamebreakers like Kamara are much harder to find. A guy who has 80 receptions a year, 900 yards rushing, and 20 touchdowns. Even if he has a “RB” next to his name, you draft guys like Kamara late in the 1st round but not guys like Robinson. If Etienne becomes Kamara then it’ll be a great pick.

Now will he become that guy? I don’t know. Personally I have my doubts. But the argument against Etienne shouldn’t be that he has a “RB” next to his name. That is irrelevant to the argument. The argument is whether he can be a Kamara type player. I won’t even put the expectation to McCaffery level stats which are insane. Matching Kamara is good enough.

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