“No Takers Yet”
April 20th, 2020
Bucs officials, who evaluate running backs about as well as Joe sticks to the vegan lettuce wraps at a luxurious and carnivorous buffet, apparently aren’t biting at the chance to add an elite running back talent.
This shouldn’t surprise any Bucs fans, but it’s still noteworthy.
It’s very public knowledge that the gutting-and-rebuilding Jaguars want to move on from wildly talented 25-year-old RB Leonard Fournette, who is coming off his best season.
Despite a weak Jaguars passing attack that featured seven games under 200 yards through the air, Fournette managed 1,152 yards on the ground last season and 76 receptions in 15 games.
But the Jaguars can’t find a trade partner yet, per the Twittering of NFL Network insider reporter Ian Rapoport this morning:
‘The #Jaguars had trade talks centered around RB Leonard Fournette for more than a month, and they circled back with teams in the last three days, sources say. No takers yet. A sign Fournette could be headed out of Jacksonville before the 2020 season.”
Yes, Fournette has a little bit of knucklehead in him, and he was injured in 2018. But he is an extraordinary talent. He would be one heck of a right-now move for the Bucs. Fournette is due just $4.1 million this season.
The Bucs are supposed to have a veteran coaching staff and a revamped culture that would seem ideal for a guy like Fournette to go wild in this season.
Despite the draft fantasies of many Bucs fans, there are no guarantees the Bucs get their running back, or that they know how to find a competent back, or that the rookie back will be ready from Day 1.
NFL fans saw how dominant LeGarrette Blount was with Tom Brady in New England. Joe sees Fournette as a similar potential fit with the Bucs, but with much better hands.
April 20th, 2020 at 9:43 am
No, dude is plain jane.
April 20th, 2020 at 9:43 am
They just might be confident in RoJo making another leap of improvement like he did in year 2? Like the broken record I am…Derick Henry showed some flashes and also disappeared at times in his first two seasons. It took him a few seasons to fully hit his stride. Maybe the coaches think the same will hold true for RoJo?
April 20th, 2020 at 9:46 am
Bruce the coach is unreal
Bruce the gm…. not so sure about
April 20th, 2020 at 9:48 am
pass. Too many talented RBs in the draft & we can’t afford him anyway
April 20th, 2020 at 9:49 am
I would give a 5th for him, I think they got a fourth for Campbell
April 20th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Where is the article layiing out the top kickers in the draft. We know Licht believes securing our kicking game will have the biggest impact on winning games. I see licht trading up in Rd 1 for the best kicker out there.
April 20th, 2020 at 9:55 am
The other issue could be that as good as a running back Fournette might be. Don’t know since I haven’t really watched him since LSU. He might really suck at pass blocking and not want to do it. Jags called him their best pass-blocking back last season and he played 83 percent of the snaps last season despite missing 1 game. –Joe That would be a reason not to trade for him. When protecting Brady. Don’t know but that might be an issue as well.
April 20th, 2020 at 9:56 am
Wait for the Jags to release him, then sign him cheap.
April 20th, 2020 at 10:10 am
No thanks.
Draft “fresh”.
April 20th, 2020 at 10:16 am
Not sure I can get behind (agree) with the “Fournette as a similar (Blount and Brady) potential fit with the Bucs, but with much better hands.” Blount was a nasty man. He didn’t give a crap and showed it on the field; and off. He was the type you didn’t want to meet in a back alley. I have never gotten that vibe from Leonard.
I do think there are at least 5 RB’s in this year’s draft and 3 RB’s still in FA that fit the bill. That being said, I might give a 5th rounder and one of Joe’s well-done prime rib steaks to the Jags for Fournette.
April 20th, 2020 at 10:17 am
How about we see who we get in the draft first. I like Freeman better than him. plus Freeman would be a lot cheaper
April 20th, 2020 at 10:22 am
So, the Bucs are crazy for not biting? The rest of the league is taking a pass too. Why do you think that is? Jags asking too much? Last year of contract and he’s gonna want big money, and spending big $$$ on the RB position is stupid? Not concerned about his 2021 contract demands. –Joe
Or maybe he’s a locker room turd? And maybe, as is often the case with dudes on the block, you wait it out and he’s cut and you don’t give up compensation. I don’t see a trade happening, but if he was waived, take a look.
April 20th, 2020 at 10:22 am
Like BB said if they release him, maybe take a look. I personally don’t think Fournette will ever stop being a knucklehead though. I would not give up anything for him in a trade.
Glad everyone’s confident in the guys picking RBs at One Buc. The Bucs could do a lot worse with their sixth-round pick. Dude produced steadily with everyone keying on the run. He also has a dominant playoff game under his belt. Signing him doesn’t mean you can’t draft RB.–Joe
April 20th, 2020 at 10:46 am
In terms of what he would cost in the trade, its a no brainer. Even if they were to pay a 3rd round pick for Fournette, using your 3rd round pick on a guy who has rushed for 1,000 yards and caught 70+ passes in the NFL is way better value than using your 2nd round pick on a rookie which is unknown how they will do. Thats not even a debate.
However, when you start factoring in other variables, it becomes less appealing to me.
1) Contract. Yes he will be cheap this year, but his 5th year option will be very expensive in 2021. In the $12M range since he was picked 4th overall. Thats a lot for a RB.
2) Potential holdout. Cant rule it out on today’s NFL with whats happened in the past couple seasons plus rumors Mixon might holdout in Cincy.
With those 2 things factored in, it makes the Fournette trade less appealing to me, unless you get hom for a day 3 pick and decline the 5th year option. Then a 1 year rental might be worth it.
April 20th, 2020 at 11:06 am
You guys dismissing him immediately should go back and watch his game film from LSU. As a prospect coming out of college none of these current backs are even in the same stratosphere of Fournette. Seriously it isn’t even close. About a month ago I was pulling up film of this years backs and decided to see how they compared to Fournette and a few other high profile prospects in recent years. There is honestly no comparison. The Bucs have a need and should definitely explore the possibility.
April 20th, 2020 at 11:30 am
so the real question is how much of a knuclehead ??….Yes, Fournette has a little bit of knucklehead in him ????….. assuming we keep him for 1 year … and he is a free agent 2021 …. he is worth only about a 4th rounder … with may a 2021 6 0r 7 rounder added ..
April 20th, 2020 at 11:40 am
Why not. He doesn’t have to be the feature back, we have ROJO who according to Bucs brass hasn’t scratched the surface yet. If he can catch and block, this could be like a Cory Dillon with Brady. If he can be had for one of our 4ths or a 5th, why not.
April 20th, 2020 at 11:53 am
He is a good back but I don’t think he’d fit in that locker room… The bucs are a good team in that they don’t have any prima donnas on their team!! Brady is an EXCELLENT compliment to that…. The fact this guy is demanding this and that because the team is not winning right now even though they used him over and over and he got plenty of playing time sends red flags up in my view!! You don’t get that with the bucs! These dudes are family and ready to win together! They want to overcome their bad years as a team…. I don’t see Leonard as that type of player? … Could be wrong of course but usually what people are saying about someone is usually pretty close to the truth! He is not even out of his rookie contact yet and already bitching…. Yeah, I’ll pass
April 20th, 2020 at 12:06 pm
Fournette would be awesome. Great get.
April 20th, 2020 at 12:33 pm
It might be a win win. We get a solid NFL RB who catches it well out of the backfield, Fournette gets a chance to showcase his skills in a big $$$ on the line year for him. Both sides are highly motivated.
April 20th, 2020 at 1:38 pm
for a round 6, it would be an awesome deal
wish we could make a deal for jamal adams jets
April 20th, 2020 at 2:08 pm
After reading more about him….He seems like a pain in the rear who WILL be looking to cash in on his next contract. How much value can he generate when he steps into an offense with Evans and Godwin….Brate and Howard….and Rojo?
Seems like its a formula for him to be disgruntled similar to Howard. These guys drink too much of their own koolaid….particularly when drafted high and get the attitude they’ll succeed somewhere if their existing team doesn’t bow to their personal game needs. Personally I like Taylor….he just seems super polished, more dynamic and would be great for down the road if we do transition to a younger QB or even the back up. A dynamic back with Evans and Godwin can make a backup look very serviceable if Brady were to go down. We would still have a shot at the playoffs…..IMO. Fournette can be effective but he’s not dynamic. Speed isn’t great….doesn’t catch all that efficiently…YPC is average.
April 20th, 2020 at 3:25 pm
I think we might be willing for no more than a 5th round pick. Probably for one year win now team
April 20th, 2020 at 3:51 pm
I’ve said it 100x trade for him…he could be a top 5 back in the right offense. I say we keep using vee for short yardage runs..1. It worked and 2.its fun to watch.
I think we should off load are center he’s way to over paid with no results..does anyone see top payed center quality from him??
You can find a good center that tom brady can groom with some dog in him easy peasy in the 3rd or most likely 4th round
I would give them a pick for next year to rights for jaxs rb
By trading away the center you free up a lot of money.
Maybe grab up the pick that you use to aquire fournette.
Now you 💰 to make the trade for the best safety in nfl in adams
I would offer oj and 2nd rd pick.
If we can finess patriots n get gronk the 💰 will be there to pay him.
1rd i get kinlaw dt or the best wide reciever in the draft.
Personally i would sign antonio brown and ummm coach him up and let Brady get in his head.
So that leaves a 3rd pick for rt or a trade up in 2nd if you see special talent. I personally dont get excited for rookie tackles or cornerback due to the learning curve but a need is a need.
With the rest of the picks add depth in online and comp unless we decide to grab up a Peters and have him play rt.
I totally against drafting qb de\olb cb lg mlb k p if we keep oj te aswell
April 20th, 2020 at 3:56 pm
If the Bucs don’t take one of the top backs in rounds 1-2-3, I would think they would offer a 4 or 5 for Fournette. No sense in make the trade now.
April 20th, 2020 at 10:30 pm
Nope. Always all about him and not team.
April 21st, 2020 at 5:22 am
I’m leery of this dude, but even more leery of the front office drafting or signing even one running back defenses seriously game plan for. He’s a proven commodity, both good and bad, so if we can get him for our lesser 4th rounder he’s worth the risk.