Leonard Fournette contract: How much did former Buccaneers star earn in Tampa?

They say life comes at you fast, and that is especially true for former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette. The 28-year-old running back, who was nicknamed "Playoff Lenny" after his 2020 heroics as the Buccaneers won the Super Bowl, is now due to be released.

Several reports indicate Fournette is due to be released by Tampa Bay before the new league season begins on March 15.

The running back signed with the Buccaneers after three years with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the move at the time was odd. Tampa Bay gave Fournette a three-year, $21 million contract, which gave the franchise an out in 2024.

Slated to earn $6.5 million this year, if Tampa does cut/release the running back, then any team wanting to sign him can re-negotiate a contract for less money.

Having played a starring role for the Buccaneers en route to a Super Bowl win in 2020, many thought the former first-round pick was back to his best. But it appears that the Buccaneers are cleaning house now that Tom Brady has retired.

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What's next for Leonard Fournette if he gets cut?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Arizona Cardinals

The running back will no doubt have some suitors for his services, but the money he demands/what teams offer will be the deal maker or breaker.

The view around the league is that he is coming to the end of his "best years" as the shelf life of a running back isn't long at all.

The running back has played just six years in the league but has established himself as a bruising runner who is tough to bring down. He has totaled 4,478 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns to date as he averages 4.0 yards per carry.

The 28-year-old has clearly been seen as surplus to requirements for the Buccaneers offense. It now remains to be seen if another team will give a chance to a back with plenty of miles on his legs.