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Where will running back Leonard Fournette sign? Brant Henson dives into the potential landing spots for free-agent running back Leonard Fournette.
Leonard Fournette is now 29 years old and is two seasons removed from his last 1,000 scrimmage-yard season. The former fourth overall pick churned out some productive seasons in both Jacksonville and Tampa Bay, but his best days seem to be behind him after playing just two games for the Buffalo Bills in 2023.
Fournette recently stated that he is motivated to continue his career and that he hopes to sign with a team prior to the 2024 season. His agent even filed the classic “best shape of his life” claim, which is hard to believe at age 29.
That being said, Fournette was an effective pass-catcher in 2022 with Tampa. Where could the veteran land for the 2024 season?
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Top Landing Spots for Leonard Fournette
Fournette is joined by many other veterans in the running back market, making it no guarantee that he does land somewhere for the 2024 season. Dalvin Cook, Cam Akers, Latavius Murray, Kareem Hunt, and Jerick McKinnon are some names who could potentially see looks before a team considers Fournette as an option.
As things stand right now, it will be tough for these veterans to find a home until injuries strike. As common as running back injuries are, it is definitely possible that they get scooped up throughout the season. Here are four teams that Fournette could potentially land with if he were to be signed prior to the season.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers backfield looks a lot like last year’s Ravens backfield after signing Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins. Los Angeles also drafted rookie Kimani Vidal in the sixth round -- it is very possible that he gets mixed into the backfield early and often.
With Dobbins’ health in flux more often than not and with Vidal being unproven at the NFL level, adding another veteran like Fournette could make sense for Jim Harbaugh’s heavy running squad. He could step into this backfield and immediately take the passing-down work.
Jacksonville Jaguars
A reunion with the team that drafted Fournette in 2017 could certainly be in the cards. Tank Bigsby showed nothing last season, and the only other relevant running back on the roster beyond Travis Etienne is journeyman D'Ernest Johnson.
With the 4th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Leonard Fournette. pic.twitter.com/tRlH1e9V7R
— ESPN (@espn) April 28, 2017
It was reported earlier this offseason that Jacksonville wanted to ease Etienne’s workload down from where it was in 2023. If Bigsby is not ready to shoulder some of the load, Fournette would be a logical back to bring in.
Las Vegas Raiders
After letting Josh Jacobs walk in free agency, Zamir White is tasked with leading the Raiders backfield in 2024. White performed well in a small sample size of work in 2023, but the depth chart behind him is full of question marks. Alexander Mattison, the epitome of inefficiency at the running back position, is currently slated as White’s backup.
every Alexander Mattison run inside the 5 yard line:
9 rushes, -7 yards, 0 TDs https://t.co/bYp9ncyt25 pic.twitter.com/UjIzlYOuPG
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 9, 2024
Sixth-rounder Dylan Laube is also on the team as a pass-catching back, but adjusting from FCS to the NFL is no easy feat. If he isn’t ready, Fournette could step in and give White a breather from time to time.
Kansas City Chiefs
With the moves made by Kansas City this offseason, it became evident that it will shift more toward passing the ball in 2024. After letting Jerick McKinnon walk, the backfield became a barren wasteland behind Isiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
Pacheco will need a breather from time to time, and no Chiefs fan is happy seeing Edwards-Helaire on the field. It is almost a given that Kansas City will add another back prior to the season -- why not add a proven veteran in Fournette?
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