to a three-year contract worth $21 million with $9 million in guarantees. Buccaneers General Manager Jason Licht allowed Fournette's market to slowly reveal itself before ultimately reaching a lucrative long-term extension that rightfully keeps Fournette in Tampa Bay for the foreseeable future.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Fournette first emerged as Tampa's unlikely hero by playing a crucial role in their dreamy 2020 postseason run by amassing an electric 135 total yards in the Buccaneers' Super Bowl LV triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs. Fournette swiftly reached an agreement on a one-year deal to return to the Buccaneers for a second season and the low-risk, high-reward"prove-it" deal paid dividends for a shrewd Buccaneers franchise.
The Buccaneers may still add to their running back room via the 2022 NFL Draft but Fournette's continued presence helps steady the ship. Fellow running back Ronald Jones remains an unrestricted free agent and is unlikely to return to the Buccaneers next season. Fournette is currently joined on the roster by the underperforming Ke'Shawn Vaughn and unproven Kenjon Barner. It’s a strong indication that Licht isn’t done addressing the position.
As excellent as Fournette has been in Tampa Bay's effective backfield, the former Jacksonville Jaguar still does his best work when utilized as a rotational ball-carrier in a two-or-three back system that also employs a high-level pass catcher. Fournette has proven capable of handling third-down work in recent showings but it's occurred out of sheer necessity more-so than desire.
The Buccaneers look like strong candidates to win the Super Bowl for the second time in three campaigns in 2022 largely due to Brady's return after a short-lived retirement, paired with Licht's other movements . Welcoming Fournette back into the fold is an underrated decision that has greatly increased their chances of reigning supreme once again.
JustinM_NFL We most def need to, as Lenny was abused in Jax + older age, high mileage, wear & tear; I’m looking at RB Dameon Pierce or James Cook in the 3rd round. Bucs TB12 w his secret-sauce 2sec “quick-twitch” release-time, TB12 turns ANY OL into productive, hence his longevity. GoBucs