Leonard Fournette signs with Tampa Bay Bucs, adding another big-name player to loaded offense

After being released by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday and clearing waivers Tuesday, running back Leonard Fournette could in theory have signed with any of the other 31 NFL teams as a free agent. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 draft was coming off a career-best season and might have had a pretty big offensive role on teams such as Washington, Miami and Chicago this year. However, Fournette on Wednesday night decided to sign with the already running back-stacked Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

No doubt that Fournette's decision had to do with Tom Brady. Superstars in the NFL and NBA tend to draw other big-name players. Guys have followed LeBron James, for example, to Cleveland, Miami, back to Cleveland and to Los Angeles while chasing a championship. Brady has that same allure – he coaxed fellow future Hall of Famer Rob Gronkowski out of retirement, for example.

Rather ironically, Brady's former Patriots team expressed interest in Fournette as well. Washington and New England were the immediate betting favorites for Fournette when he was cut Monday.

SportsLine NFL oddsmakers had the Bucs a bit down the list of options where Fournette might sign simply as they had five running backs on the roster in projected starter Ronald Jones, recent free-agent addition LeSean McCoy (signed in late July), third-round rookie Ke'Shawn Vaughn, seventh-round rookie Raymond Calais and pass-catching back Dare Ogunbowale.

How does an offense of Brady, Jones/Fournette/McCoy, receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and tight ends Gronkowski and OJ Howard sound? The Bucs could be the Chiefs of the NFC. Between Fournette and McCoy, the Bucs have two tailbacks who have combined for eight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. By comparison, Tampa Bay has had a total of 12 1,000-yard rushing seasons in team history

NFL teams must cut down their active rosters to 53 players by Saturday afternoon. Will the Bucs actually keep six tailbacks? There's no chance. Fournette and Jones are safe. Presumably Vaughn is, too, because teams don't give up on third-round picks so quickly.

Ogunbowale is the best receiver out of the backfield of the bunch and also an excellent special teams player. None of the veteran backs play special teams. That could mean McCoy gets the boot, although reportedly the Bucs have told McCoy they plan to keep him. This is the year of COVID-19, don't forget. That could play a role in roster decisions. Calais is probably a lock for the practice squad if he clears waivers.

Fournette signed a one-year deal worth $2 million with incentives based on rushing yards and playing time that could earn him another $1.5 million. He has filed a grievance with the Jaguars over the $4.2 million they were supposed to pay him this year so Fournette would be able to "double-dip" if he wins that.

This signing didn't alter any Bucs futures odds at William Hill sportsbook because those odds are so "inflated" as it is due to incredibly heavy optimistic action. Plus, only a few running backs would alter futures odds: Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, Derrick Henry, Zeke Elliott to name four.

If you are wondering, and we were, the Bucs don't play the Jaguars this season. However, Week 1 at the Saints will surely be special for Fournette as he grew up in New Orleans and was a prep football legend at St. Augustine High in the city before going down the road to LSU. Sept. 13 will be Fournette's first NFL game back in the Big Easy. The Bucs are 3.5-point underdogs on the NFL odds. 

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