What is the Buccaneers' salary cap in 2023? Exploring the scenario after Tampa Bay releases Leonard Fournette

Running back Leonard Fournette, a significant part of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Super Bowl 55 win, has been notified that the team will release him before the start of the next league year on March 15, a source revealed to ESPN.

Tampa Bay is undergoing a real transition during the offseason. They parted ways with another big player after Tom Brady decided to retire at the beginning of the month.

Last summer, Tampa Bay extended Leonard Fournette's contract by three years. It was valued at $21 million, with the potential for an additional $24 million in bonuses. Nonetheless, the team is expected to be $55 million over the salary cap going into the 2023 offseason, with retired Tom Brady contributing $35 million of that.

The Buccaneers will save around $3.4 million this offseason by releasing Leonard Fournette. Even though a lot has to be done this summer, the Bucs must start thinking about how the club will appear in the future and which essential players will need to be retained as components of the organization's foundation.

According to Fournette, he requested his release, and there is "no bad blood" in his relationship with the team.

Regarding Fournette's replacement, Tampa Bay is reportedly considering a rookie running back in this year's draft. The team saw some promising signs from Rachaad White last season.

In 17 games last year, White carried for 481 yards and one score. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Buccaneers made him their third-round pick.

---

What is Leonard Fournette’s record with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers?

After agreeing to a contract extension with the Bucs in March last year, Leonard Fournette underwhelmed this just-concluded season. With 189 rushes for 668 yards and three scores, he led the club in carrying, although his average of 3.5 yards per attempt was the second-lowest of his professional career.

In 79 career games with the Bucs and Jacksonville Jaguars, he has run for 4,478 yards and 34 TDs and added 312 receptions for 2,219 yards and seven more scores.

His fans will always revere Fournette for stepping up when it was needed the most. Fournette demonstrated his ability to be lethal on the ground and in the air during his memorable playoff performance in 2020. He ran for 300 yards and three scores in four outings while collecting 18 throws for 148 yards and one touchdown. In the victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV, he recorded 135 total yards and a touchdown.