Leonard Fournette odds: Which NFL team will sign released Jaguars running back?
The Jacksonville Jaguars shockingly released running back Leonard Fournette on Monday, and he cleared waivers Tuesday. Where will he land?
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Are the Jacksonville Jaguars in full tank mode for the 2020 season? They certainly got a lot worse in the past 24 hours by trading former Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Minnesota Vikings for draft picks on Sunday and then shockingly releasing leading rusher Leonard Fournette on Monday. There will certainly be a market for Fournette, and SportsLine has come up with NFL odds on where he plays in 2020 with the season less than two weeks away. Fournette did clear waivers Tuesday afternoon (any team claiming him would have had to pay his $4.17 million salary) and is now a free agent.
Jags coach Doug Marrone on trying to trade Fournette: "We couldn't get anything, a fifth, a sixth, anything. We couldn't get anything."
Why is this franchise consistently a loser? From 2012-2017, the Jaguars made six straight picks in the Top 5: WR Justin Blackmon, OT Luke Joeckel, QB Blake Bortles, DE Dante Fowler, Jr., CB Jalen Ramsey and then Fournette. They are all gone now. The first three were major busts. Fournette and Ramsey are the only two Top 5 picks since 2016 who are no longer with the team that drafted them.
Fournette was the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 draft, with the Jags taking him ahead of the likes of Jamal Adams (No. 6 to Jets), Christian McCaffrey (No. 8 to Panthers), Patrick Mahomes (No. 10 to Kansas City) and Deshaun Watson (No. 12 to Texans). In fact, Fournette's career Pro Football Focus grade of 67.3 is just 13th of all running backs taken in the 2017 draft.
However, that's not to say the former LSU star isn't a good player. Fournette rushed for 1,152 yards and three touchdowns while catching 76 passes for 522 yards last season. All but the rushing TDs were a career high and his average of 111.6 yards per scrimmage per game was fourth in the NFL. Fournette is only 25 and immediately trumps Devonta Freeman as the top free-agent running back available, although Fournette is injury-prone and has been a bit of a high maintenance player with his attitude.
This screams the type of high-ceiling player that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick would add. Yes, the Pats already added Lamar Miller, but top running back Sony Michel is in question for Week 1 due to offseason surgery. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora tweeted: "Was just talking to a personnel guy about Fournette. He figured New England or Washington as potential teams who might claim him." Washington's lead back is currently 35-year-old Adrian Peterson.
The Chicago Bears need running back depth in the worst way with No. 1 David Montgomery dealing with a groin injury that could cost him the first game or two of the season. The Seahawks have been linked to Fournette since the spring when they reportedly talked to the Jags about a possible trade. The team has signed since Carlos Hyde, however.
The Philadelphia Eagles have long been linked to a veteran back as insurance behind Miles Sanders, who already is dinged up. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a very solid No. 1 running back in James Conner, but he has had trouble staying on the field.
Tampa Bay is clearly all-in on 2020 with Tom Brady in tow, but the Bucs would appear to be set at running back with Ronald Jones and LeSean McCoy. In theory, they could just cut McCoy.
Miami has plenty of salary cap space and Fournette would surely be an upgrade on projected starter Jordan Howard (although the team also has Matt Breida). The Fins talked Fournette trade with the Jags before the draft.
Via SportsLine NFL oddsmakers: Which team will Leonard Fournette play for in 2020?
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