Bills Best Landing Spot for Bucs RB Leonard Fournette? 'Winning is Everything'
The Buffalo Bills have some questions at running back this offseason, but maybe free agency will have some answers.
Meanwhile, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering a new era after the retirement of Tom Brady, though it's been more recent moves that have helped quiet some of the Brady hype.
Tampa Bay is set to release running back Leonard Fournette, who requested to be cut by the team. The timing is noticeable, as both his stated desires and the backfield needs of the Bills is something that could add up to create a fit.
“Winning is everything,” Fournette said in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times. “That’s all. And in my last three years here, that’s all we’ve done. But since my guy (Brady) left — that’s why I came — so my time here was up.”
Among the league's contenders, Buffalo arguably has some of the greatest need for a new face at running back.
With running back Devin Singletary set to enter free agency, second-year ball-carrier James Cook still growing into his own and the priority of taking some heat off of quarterback Josh Allen as a dual-threat option, bolstering the running back room is arguably at the top of the offseason to-do list.
Fournette's desire to push for another Super Bowl could potentially place the Bills high on his list of choices. However, for a Bills team that hasn't had a 1,000-yard rusher since LeSean McCoy in 2017, there's reason to feel some hesitation about signing wanting to make the right choice before signing a guy who is on the back end of his career at the most disposable position in the NFL.
Fournette began this season season as the RB1 in Tampa Bay's offense, as it was once again Super Bowl-or-bust for Brady and Co. But the Bucs managed to finish with the league's worst rushing offense by a mile, averaging the fewest rushing yards per game (76.9), scoring the fewest rushing touchdowns (five) and fewest average yards per carry (3.4).
While part of this was due to Brady leading the league with 733 pass attempts, the Bucs consistently found themselves in holes due to a lackluster rushing attack and overall poor offense.
An injury-prone offensive line and Fournette's uninspiring play deserved some understandable blame. His job was generally seen as safe entering the season after over a year removed from helping the Bucs win the Super Bowl in 2020, but he was unable to create separation in the Tampa Bay backfield with rookie Rachaad White, who slowly gained an increased role this past season before getting splashes of starters reps to end the year.
Signing Fournette would likely grant his wishes, but the feeling might be mutual for the Bills. For a position as fragile as running back, Buffalo would be better of building around Cook for the future if Singletary ultimately walks.
Fournette will find himself a team, but the Bills - for their own sake - shouldn't see themselves as one of those options.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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