The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing back another key ingredient to their Super Bowl winning recipe, with running back Leonard Fournette coming back on a one-year deal according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The deal is reportedly worth $3.25 million initially, but can rise to $4 million with incentives.
NFL insider Josina Anderson was first to report Fournette re-signing in Tampa.
His return is the latest in a series of re-signings for the Buccaneers this off-season. They’ve also brought back linebackers Lavonte David and Shaq Barrett, placed a franchise tag on receiver Chris Godwin and extended the contract of quarterback Tom Brady.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that all 22 starters from the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win in February are now back with the team.
Fournette, the fourth-overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars, was released by his former team less than two weeks before the start of the 2020 season. The Buccaneers picked him up shortly thereafter, and Fournette appeared in 13 games (three starts) for them.
The 26-year-old rushed for 367 yards and six touchdowns on 3.8 yards per carry during the regular season. Then he turned it up a few notches in the playoffs, producing 724 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in four games.
Tampa Bay’s backfield tandem is complete with Ronald Jones II, who rushed for 978 yards last season and is due to hit free agency after the 2021 campaign.
[relatedlinks]