Whereas gamers akin to D’Andre Swift and Jonathan Taylor have a shot at listening to their names referred to as towards the latter finish of spherical one at subsequent week’s NFL Draft, it’s clear that this class lacks the blue-chip expertise that we’ve seen in years previous.
No want to fret, as you could not have to go the draft route to search out your self a bell-cow working again this offseason. In response to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jacksonville Jaguars have had commerce discussions with different groups concerning working again Leonard Fournette.
The previous top-five total draft choose is simply 25-years previous and coming off his finest statistical season to this point. There needs to be no scarcity of suitors for a person of Fournette’s expertise on the commerce block.
We take a deep dive into the top-five potential touchdown spots for the star working again.
Honorable Mentions to Land Fournette
Chicago Bears – David Montgomery struggled mightily at occasions throughout his rookie season, whereas Chicago confirmed no religion to lean on Tarik Cohen within the run sport. Fournette would function an incredible improve within the Bears backfield and provides the offense the kind of id they’ve been seeking.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs – This is able to be merely unfair. The Chiefs are a workhorse working again away from being almost unstoppable. Damien Williams is a pleasant participant however is a greater receiving risk than a go-to possibility within the backfield, evident by the truth that he averaged lower than 2.57 ypc in 5 of his 11 regular-season video games in 2019.
Miami Dolphins – Had been it not for the Jordan Howard signing this offseason, Miami would have actually made our top-five. The Dolphins have greater than sufficient cap house to increase Fournette transferring ahead. Nevertheless, he and Howard might merely be an excessive amount of alike.
High-5 Commerce Companions for Leonard Fournette
- 5. Detroit Lions
- Kerryon Johnson has stud-potential when wholesome. Nevertheless, whereas Bo Scarbrough had his moments in 2019, the duo of Johnson and Fournette would make Detroit’s offense deadly.
Most significantly, the deal is sensible from a cash standpoint. In response to Over The Cap, Detroit presently owns the second-most cap house within the NFL.
- 4. Los Angeles Rams
- It will appear considerably odd to maneuver on from Todd Gurley solely to usher in one other former first-round choose, one who will probably be seeking to be paid equally to Gurley very quickly.
- With that stated, Fournette is on his rookie deal by means of 2020. In 2021 the Rams’ wage cap house opens up, as they get the vast majority of the lifeless cash from the Gurley and Brandin Cooks contracts off the books.
From a soccer perspective, the Rams have confirmed they’ll go so far as their run sport can take them. A wholesome Gurley made Los Angeles one of the deadly offenses in soccer, whereas a rejuvenated CJ Anderson made them respectable Tremendous Bowl contenders.
As a lot as I like Darrell Henderson’s upside, I don’t see him carrying an offense the best way Fournette can.
- 3. Washington Redskins
- Derrius Guice is uber-talented, however that doesn’t matter if you happen to can’t keep on the sphere. It’s onerous to hedge your bets on a man who’s appeared in a grand complete of 5 video games over his first two years within the league.
- Fournette offers Washington a dependable playmaker within the backfield, who proved a season in the past he can play on all three-downs, hauling in a career-high 76 receptions.
Irrespective of who’s below middle for the ‘Skins subsequent season, they’ll have to lean closely on the run sport to succeed.
- 2. Seattle Seahawks
- This simply looks as if a Pete Carroll transfer. Seattle is all the time in search of methods to get their arms on expertise. They traded for Percy Harvin just a few years again, they kicked the tires on Josh Gordon final yr, the Seahawks aren’t afraid to swing for the fences.
Chris Carson is certainly one of my favourite gamers in all of soccer, however there’s no denying he’s been considerably harm inclined over his profession, by no means ending a whole 16-game season within the NFL. He’s additionally had his fair proportion of fumble-itis over the previous two years, placing the ball on the bottom 10 occasions over his final 29 regular-season video games.
Talking of accidents, Rashaad Penny continues to be rehabbing from a late-season ACL tear and his return to the sphere is unknown right now.
No staff ran the ball greater than the Seahawks down the stretch final season. Carson and Fournette would every see greater than sufficient touches, whereas Fournette’s improved receiving talents would enable him to man Penny’s function within the passing sport.
- 1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tom Brady handing the ball off to Leonard Fournette? Sure, please. The Bucs had been the ninth-worst rush offense in soccer a season in the past. Ronald Jones had some flashes in 2019, however continues to be finest served as a change of tempo again, whereas Peyton Barber is now in Washington.
- The presence of Fournette would additionally possible restrict Bruce Arians from getting too pass-happy this season, one thing that was an obvious detriment to the staff final yr.
- Brady has all the time been at his finest when he’s had a bruising working again handy the ball off to, i.e. Corey Dillon and Legarrette Blount. Fournette could possibly be that man in Tampa.
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