Despite Leonard Fournette‘s two 1,000-yard seasons, the Jaguars will not pick up his fifth-year option, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
This is not a major surprise when considering the team shopped its three-year running back starter in trades. The Jags discussed Fournette deals with at least two teams — the Buccaneers and Dolphins — and began shopping him over a month ago.
Fournette’s option would cost the Jags north of $8MM. He is set to earn $4.16MM in 2020, what is now the final year of his rookie contract. Because Fournette was chosen in the top 10 three years ago, his option price comes in $3MM higher than it would have if he were a non-top-10 running back.
Thus far, the Jags have received tepid trade interest in Fournette. The former LSU running back has enjoyed an up-and-down tenure in Jacksonville. He has two 1,000-yard seasons but also missed eight games in 2018 — a year in which he averaged just 54.9 yards per game — and due to injury and a suspension. Fournette is, however, coming off his best season. He recorded 1,674 yards from scrimmage — 522 of which coming through the air.
Fournette was the first running back chosen in 2017. The Jags used their top pick in that draft on him, despite Blake Bortles coming off a down season and both Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes on the board. Now, it’s uncertain if Fournette will play another down in Jacksonville. The Jags did not draft a running back but did sign ex-Redskins passing-down back Chris Thompson on Friday. Thompson, 2019 fifth-rounder Ryquell Armstead (3.1 yards per carry as a rookie) and a host of UDFAs comprise Jacksonville’s running back depth chart beyond Fournette.
Seahawks type of runner
No thank you!,
Chris Carson is a stud. They dont need another rb now.
Jags better hope he doesn’t find a home with a division rival. He still has talent and he has a chip on his shoulder.
Maybe. He is a money first player. I would trust him to have a good year headed into free agency. So I agree for maybe a year. After that beware.
He’s been good every year except his sophomore year
L
If you think this dude loves football, cool.
Running backs dont get paid on the open market.
Are any of you even reading what the other said?
Leonard fournette or marlon Mack
For president?
And your tag will haunt you. Burrow is the best thing since sliced bread
Leonard Fournette for OJ Howard
Buccs get a more win now type RB than the third round pick rookie they have and Jags get a pretty decent TE in return for a player who is just causing drama now.
Jags would also be set with their receivers with WR having Shenault, Chark, Conley, Westbrook and Johnson. TE having Howard plus Eifert and Oliver. I think with another good draft next year they should be ready to start getting good again.
I doubt the bucs do that, think of the random running backs who produced with Brady under center, and arians got David Johnson in what the 7th round or something…Keyshawn Vaughn looks like he will fit right into that offense with rojo or their 7th rounder catching the passes out of the backfield
Johnson was a mid-3rd pick, not a late rounder.
Brady needs a solid running game more than ever now. Thats why BB broke with tradition and drafted Michel in the 1st a few years ago.
Yeah I think he does need a solid RB to help him and a third round pick rookie will struggle to provide enough help. Every team that play the Buccs will know Brady can’t run the ball, they have two TEs and two WRs for catching and the run isn’t a threat but if they get someone like Fournette they atleast they can’t always expect the ball to be thrown
Well for most teams running backs are able to step right in without much development.
For some reason Tampa has been unable to fill this role
cheap
so much talent has gone thru a revolving door in Jacksonville it’s been crazy. Completely wasted talent…
I mean they did make it to an AFC championship game and won a division title.
Wouldnt call it completely wasted
…also the refs made sure the Pat’s won that game so the world may never know…
8mil for an additional doesn’t seem that unreasonable
His trade value goes up without that attached
Damn Jacksonville might be the worst run, and in turn most hated, front office in all or sports. If not, they’re definitely up there. The past 16 months have been absolutely mind-blowing.
Jags front office is “cleaning house” of malcontents.
You can see it in the players they drafted this year.
Fournette changed his attitude big time before last season and has been a good teammate since…..but 8 mil is too much even just based on his injury history.
Not certain he leaves anyway…..they could still re-sign him.
But this move makes him more tradeable and leads to a possible re-sign at a lesser contract(helps Jags) which includes a signing bonus(helps Fournette).
More likely he moves on though.
Yeah … BUT … Dave Caldwell (ONCE AGAIN) drafted Fournette with Patrick Mahomes & DeShaun Watson sitting there for the taking. Yet another reason he should be fired already. Fournette was his pick !