NFL Rumors: Leonard Fournette to Be Released by Bucs When New League Year Begins

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reportedly plan to release Leonard Fournette when the new league year opens March 15.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the move, which will come despite the Bucs owing Fournette $2 million in guarantees. Tampa will save about $3.5 million on the salary cap for the 2023 season.

The decision to release Fournette came just hours after Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht told reporters the LSU product has "several years left in him as a three-down back."

"I asked after the season to be [released], and they respected my wishes," Fournette told Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. "So no bad blood."

Fournette joined the Bucs in September 2020 after being shockingly released by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He rushed for 1,847 yards and 17 touchdowns over three seasons in Tampa and had his most extended run of success during the team's run to a Super Bowl LV championship, earning him the nicknames "Playoff Lenny" and "Lombardi Lenny."

Tampa brought him back on a one-year contract in 2021 and then again on a three-year, $21 million deal in 2022, but the latter proved to be an overpay. The 28-year-old struggled throughout last season while playing with a foot injury, compiling just 668 yards and three touchdowns in 16 games.

The Bucs offense as a whole took a major step back in 2022, with issues on the offensive line causing major problems for the running and passing games.

Tom Brady's retirement at the beginning of the month likely sets the stage for a full-scale retooling—if not an outright rebuild. It would not be a surprise if more Tampa veterans are shown the door via trade or release in the coming weeks.