Free agent coming back Leonard Fournette re-signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for a one-year deal worth $ 3.25 million with incentives that would boost it to $ 4 million, a source told ESPN.
Fournette was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars just days before the 2020 season opener, and the Buccaneers signed him to a one-year deal worth $ 2 million. It meant he got a backup role behind Ronald Jones, which Fournette admitted was challenging for him, but his dedication to being a team player paid off.
Jones sustained a broken finger, went on the reserve / COVID-19 list, and sustained a quad injury, all of which forced him to miss weeks 15 and 16 and the wildcard game in Washington. That gave Fournette the opportunity to advance for 225 total yards and four touchdowns in that period, including 93 yards and two touchdowns against Washington, earning him the nickname “Playoff Lenny”.
His nickname soon changed to “Lombardi Lenny” after Fournette finished with 448 yards in the postseason – the most of any scrimmage player. His four touchdowns in the playoffs were the fourth most in the franchise’s postseason history, including a 27-yard touchdown run in Super Bowl LV.
With the return of Fournette, the Bucs now return all 22 offensive and defensive starters of their championship team.
Fournette, who turned 26 in January, was the fourth overall pick in 2017 by the Jaguars, who refused to pick up his fifth-year option in May last year before releasing it in September. After a tough 2018 season in which he sat on the bench, fined and criticized, Fournette statistically responded with his best season in 2019, rushing to a best career of 1,152 yards and catching 76 passes for 522 yards with three total touchdowns .
He has 2,998 rushing yards with 23 rushing touchdowns and 170 receptions for 1,242 yards and two touchdown catches in 49 regular season games.