Another disgruntled star left the Jacksonville Jaguars camp with less than two weeks before the start of the upcoming season. Running back Leonard Fournette followed in the footsteps of the recently relocated defensive end Yannick Ngakoue albeit in a different way. The former LSU Tiger was only waived by the team and will be entering the free-agent market since the team couldn't find a trade partner to take on his contract.
Jacksonville Jaguars beat report John Shipley disclosed statements from head coach Doug Marrone on the situation of Fournette via Twitter:
"We couldn't get anything. Fifth, sixth … we couldn't get anything." — #Jaguars HC Doug Marrone on attempts to trade Leonard Fournette.
— John Shipley (@_John_Shipley) August 31, 2020
On May 1, 2020, the Jaguars declined the fifth-year option on Fournette's contract, which would've made him a free agent in 2021. Instead of having the running back play with the team for another season, the front office decided to abruptly end their partnership and release Fournette just as he desired to.
The Louisiana native is coming off a three-year run with the team that selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Despite being groomed as the team's running back of the future, Fournette's efficiency on the field never lived up to the front office's expectations. He also had altercations both on and off the field including a fistfight with Buffalo Bills defensive end Shaq Lawson back in 2018.
He tried to make a case for himself last season when he tallied career-best numbers in receiving yards with 1,152 and 4.3 yards per carry through 15 games played.
Fournette can still be a strong contributor to another team given the right circumstances. His future on the gridiron remains to be seen depending on whether a team will be willing to take a chance on him in the coming days.
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