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Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette has had plenty of ups and downs since joining the team before the 2022 NFL season but was brought back on a three-year deal after a breakout 2021 campaign. However, the veteran back didn't perform at a high level in 2022, and with Tampa Bay potentially starting a rebuild, he could be released this offseason.
Plenty of the key players in the Tampa Bay locker room are past the age apex in the NFL and the future of Tom Brady's career with the team hangs in the balance, so there might not be a great incentive to keep the 28-year-old running back from LSU.
How did Fournette perform in 2022 and will he be released this offseason? Let's dive in.
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Leonard Fournette 2022 Season Review
On the ground, Fournette rushed just 189 times for 688 yards and three rushing touchdowns. His 3.5 yards-per-carry was a career-low and his three rushing scores matched a career-low. Through the air, he caught 73 of his 83 targets for 523 yards and three receiving scores. That said, he was still relatively productive in that facet of his game, but he was far from a game-breaker and a top-of-the-line workhorse like he was in 2021.
Leonard Fournette PlayerProfiler.com Stats and Metrics
Meanwhile, rookie running back Rachaad White rushed 129 times for 481 yards and one rushing score while catching 50 of his 58 targets for 290 yards and two receiving touchdowns. As the season moved on, White became more involved and handled 11 touches to Fournette's six touches in the NFC Wild Card loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
While White wasn't a game-breaker either, he looked more explosive than the aging Fournette and is cheaper to roster and fits a rebuilding team if that's the direction they choose to go.
Will Leonard Fournette Be Released By The Buccaneers?
According to Fox Sports' Greg Auman, the Buccaneers could be forced to cut Fournette this offseason, as they are currently $55 million over the projected 2023 salary cap of $225 million. It will require some maneuvering before they can re-sign any of their 24 impending unrestricted free agents.
A Fournette cut would save $3.5 million. He's been the team's leading rusher, but again, Tampa was dead-last in the league in rushing yards per game in 2022 and yards per carry. The way things are trending it seems more likely that he's not on the Bucs' roster next season.
It will be interesting to see where he lands, as there's still a chance he could be a fantasy-relevant RB in 2023. He might not be a bonafide RB1, but his pass-catching skill set could mean he'll stay as a flex-worthy option in the right situation.
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