According to a report by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Leonard Fournette will soon be a free agent. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have decided to release the former Super Bowl champion in order to save some much-needed cap space. While this does open the door for Rachaad White, Fournette should still have plenty of suitors across the league.
The #Bucs plan to release RB Leonard Fournette when the new league year begins March 15, per sources.
GM Jason Licht mentioned recently that he felt Fournette was still a three-down back in this league. “Lombardi Lenny” is still only 28 and has plenty in the tank. pic.twitter.com/KMHiGSfG9L
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 28, 2023
Top 5 Leonard Fournette Free Agent Team Fits
1. Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills eternal quest for a true lead running back could come to an end before long. James Cook showed some signs of life as a rookie, but even if the team believes he can be their long-term starter, they could still use another body. Devin Singletary is set to be a free agent, and Leonard Fournette is the superior player. Ideally, Fournette and Cook will serve as a two-headed committee capable of taking some of the pressure off of Josh Allen. However, if Cook’s not up for the job, then Fournette is good enough to handle a three-down workload.
2. Philadelphia Eagles
Miles Sanders is set to be a free agent, and most reports across the league believe that the former second-round pick is going to cash in with a new organization. This leaves a glaring hole atop the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart, and Fournette is a fine choice to fill that void. The longtime NFL veteran has experience on winning football teams, and the Eagles figure to be one of the best rosters in the league next year. Perhaps Kenneth Gainwell or a rookie could handle starting duties, but why take that risk when there is a proven veteran on the market?
3. Kansas City Chiefs
Isiah Pacheco played well last year, but the Kansas City Chiefs could use a more proven commodity for the backfield. It’s no secret that the team is looking for a free agent that is better between the tackles, and Leonard Fournette has a three-down skillset tailor-made for this offense. Andy Reid prefers to use a workhorse running back, but he hasn’t had a player capable of handling that volume since the Kareem Hunt days. Fournette isn’t the player he used to be, but he can still make an impact as both a runner and a receiver.
4. Baltimore Ravens
Nobody knows exactly what the future holds for J.K. Dobbins. The running back played well as a rookie and during the first half of the 2023 campaign, but he didn’t look like himself in the back half of the season. The former second-round pick has struggled to stay healthy, and there is a chance that Dobbins has lost the speed and acceleration that made him such an interesting prospect back in the day. If that’s the case, the run-heavy Ravens need to find another back that can handle a high volume of touches. Frankly, there’s no way to know if Dobbins can return to form as of yet, which makes Fournette a perfect signing. If Dobbins can recapture his rookie form, then Fournette can be a great 1B that helps alleviate some of the workload. If the injuries have taken their toll, then Fournette can start.
Rooting for JK Dobbins. But this does not look great. pic.twitter.com/VIDr48klAU
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) December 12, 2022
5. Miami Dolphins
Leonard Fournette can complete his tour of Florida with a free agent visit to the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have arguably the worst running back room in the league, as both Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson are set to hit free agency. This team clearly wants to win now, so they should be willing to turn over the backfield to the proven 28-year-old back. While head coach Mike McDaniel might prefer a faster player, Fournette should be able to handle starting duties in an offense stacked to the brim with dangerous playmakers.
Main Photo: Kim Klement – USA Today Sports
