It seems that Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette will be on the move in a few weeks, but he may not have to travel far. During his 11:15 a.m. CT press conference at the NFL Scouting Combine, Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht described Fournette as someone who “has several years left in him as a three down back.” About two hours later at 1:21 p.m. CT, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero broke news that Tampa Bay plans to release Fournette once the new league year begins on March 15.
And Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton sees an ideal landing-spot for Fournette right in the division. While the New Orleans Saints still need to clear some salary cap hurdles and answer questions about Alvin Kamara’s availability in the fall as his Las Vegas battery case advances to the next court, Fournette could be the best running back he’s played with in the Saints backfield. Moton writes:
“Even if Kamara isn’t suspended by the league, the Saints should add another ball-carrier. The five-time Pro Bowl running back has become accustomed to splitting touches in the backfield. Over the past six seasons, the Saints have paired him with Mark Ingram II, Latavius Murray and Taysom Hill.
New Orleans has an unsettled quarterback situation and a running back whose short-term availability seems uncertain.
If Fournette signs with New Orleans, he could handle the lion’s share of touches if Kamara misses significant time. The ex-Jaguar would reunite with his former head coach in Doug Marrone, who’s the Saints offensive line coach.
As a New Orleans native, Fournette may see that role with this particular team as an appealing draw in a decision on where to start a new career chapter.”
That last point is worth watching. The Saints made a big deal about the pair of hometown heroes they signed last summer, bringing LSU legends Tyrann Mathieu and Jarvis Landry back to Louisiana. Fournette’s New Orleans roots run just as deep and he could quickly win back the fans he enjoyed ribbing while playing for the visiting team. If the price is right, he makes a lot of sense for the Saints.
And there’s an added wrinkle here. Because Fournette is going to be released by Tampa Bay, he won’t count into the compensatory draft pick formula should New Orleans sign him. That wasn’t the case last year when the Saints jeopardized potential comp picks for Marcus Williams and Terron Armstead by signing Marcus Maye and Andy Dalton. If they lose players like Marcus Davenport, David Onyemata, or Kaden Elliss to high-priced deals in free agency, targeting players who have been cut like Fournette protects any comp picks they qualify for in 2024.
But we’re really putting the cart before the horse here. Fournette has not been released yet (the Buccaneers probably leaked their intentions here to see if another team might trade for him first) and the free agent running back class is loaded with promising talents. The Saints didn’t sign him when they had the chance before, and they may choose to pass on him if given the opportunity again.
