The Houston Texans are on the cusp of joining the NFL's elite.

C.J. Stroud has guided the team to a playoff victory in each of his two seasons as starter, yet Houston has faced challenges against top teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills.

With Stroud on a cost-effective rookie contract, it's essential for the Texans to add more talent around him to capitalize on this prime opportunity.

The Texans might begin by acquiring players from a division rival.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the subject of NFL rumors regarding the future of running back Travis Etienne.

The two-time 1,000-yard rusher had his least productive season last year, and Jacksonville responded by drafting two running backs this year. Tank Bigsby adds another challenge to Etienne's role with the Jaguars.

John Johnson of RotoBaller proposes Etienne could move to Houston as a pass-catching back, teaming up with Joe Mixon.

'ETN has so far shown strength in pass-catching, outperforming Texans RB Joe Mixon, who excels as a pure runner,' Johnson wrote. 'Etienne might thrive catching passes from quarterback C.J. Stroud and handling passing downs in a shared backfield with Mixon.'

Mixon recently rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns, but at age 28 and after missing OTAs due to an undisclosed injury that required a walking boot, it's wise to manage his workload.

Etienne and Mixon could form an ideal duo as skilled backs who perform best with reduced snaps. Both have proven capable as primary runners, but a shared backfield would preserve their energy for the playoffs.

C.J. Stroud has dealt with changes on offense, including Tank Dell's season-ending injury and Stefon Diggs' exit. Adding Etienne could boost the young quarterback's confidence.

Moreover, taking Etienne from a division rival would be a strategic bonus.