TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed former Jaguars Running Back Leonard Fournette to a 1 year, $3.5 million contract.
Fournette, 25, was released by the Jaguars on September 1 after three seasons with the team. Rumors rolled around about which team would sign him before the start of the season.
The Raiders and the Buccaneers were the top landing choices, and it seems the Bucs are going all in this season on a Super Bowl appearance after picking up Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski in the offseason.
Fournette had a rocky tenure in Jacksonville. Selected 4th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft from LSU, Fournette was chosen ahead of players like Christian McCaffery, Patrick Mahomes and Deshaun Watson. After a terrible 2018 season filled with injuries and suspensions, Fournette had his best statistical season in 2019, rushing for 1,152 yards and three touchdowns.
But after more rocky moments during the 2019 & 2020 offseason, coach Doug Marrone said that despite Fournette’s productivity, he thought the move was “the best decision for us as a team.” He added that it was strictly an on-field decision to waive him.
The Jaguars declined Fournette’s fifth-year option and had Fournette on the trade block for months. After retaining no serious offers from other teams, the Jaguars decided to cut their losses with the star running back, paying him $4.17 million to release him.
Fournette now joins an already talented running back corps in Tampa Bay with LeSean McCoy, Ronald Jones, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn. We don’t know exactly how he’ll fit into the rotation come week one, but he’ll be a huge addition to an already talented and hyped up Bucs team gunning for their second Lombardi Trophy.
