The Buccaneers plan to part ways with running back Leonard Fournette when the new league year begins on March 15, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
Fournette was still guaranteed $2 million his contract and would’ve been due another $2 million guaranteed if he remained on the roster on March 19, according to Pelissero. However, Tampa will release him before that date in order to spread out the anticipated cap hit.
Fournette, who began his career with the Jaguars as the No. 4 pick in 2017, first joined the Buccaneers in 2020. He quickly etched his name into franchise lore during his first postseason with Tampa, earning the nicknames “Playoff Lenny” and later “Lombardi Lenny” for his performances during the Bucs’ run to the Super Bowl. In four playoff games that year, Fournette amassed 448 total yards and four touchdowns, one of which came in the team’s 31–9 rout of the Chiefs in Super Bowl LV.
Though Fournette produced one of his better seasons in 2021 (812 yards, eight touchdowns, 4.5 yards per carry), he struggled to be a steady contributor this past season. With the emergence of rookie Rachaad White in the backfield, the 28-year-old took a reduced role and racked up just 668 yards and three scores during the regular season.
Just hours before news of Fournette’s impending release broke, Bucs general manager Jason Licht said the former first-round pick has “several years left in him as a three down back.” It appears that time won’t come in Tampa, but perhaps with another team beginning in 2023.
