Hard pass
Sign Leonard Fournette
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Why?
Meh. Don’t really care either way. Won’t be disappointed if we don’t sign and won’t hate it if we do
1.Me player
2.Very poor attitude
I also personally feel that Fournette is living off his sophomore year at LSU still.
Kelly: No reason Dolphins shouldn’t claim recently released tailback Leonard Fournette | Commentary
Since the Miami Dolphins are still in the collecting talent stage of this franchise’s rebuild, there’s no reason they shouldn’t put in a waiver claim on recently released tailback Leonard Fournette.
While the Dolphins have two starting caliber tailbacks in Jordan Howard and Matt Breida, both player’s injury history hints that Miami could use another front-line talent to supplement the tailback unit and enhance the rushing attack.
And Fournette has certainly proven his worth the past three seasons, rushing for 2,631 yards and scoring 17 rushing touchdowns on the 666 carries he’s had in the 33 games he’s played in the past three seasons.
Last season Fournette finished with a career-best 1,152 rushing yards on 4.3 yards a carry and three touchdowns. He also led the Jacksonville Jaguars in receptions (76) and added 522 receiving yards to his totals.
The 24-year-old has caught 134 passes for 1,009 yards and two touchdowns during his tenure with the Jaguars, which released the disgruntled tailback they’ve been trying to trade the entire offseason.
[Most Read Dolphins Coverage] Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick returns despite grieving his deceased mother »
The Dolphins are fifth on the waiver wire claim order, which mirrors the 2020 NFL draft at this point. That means the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions and New York Giants would have to pass on Fournette for Miami to secure the former LSU standout and his contract. But anything is possible now that he’s up for grabs if the Jaguars formally release him instead of trading him to another team, like Miami tried to do with Kalen Ballage. He was supposed to be released last week but ended up being traded to the New York Jets — before failing a physical to nix the deal.
Fournette is slated to earn $4,167,393 in the final year of his rookie deal as the No. 4 pick of the 2017 NFL draft, and he carries a $8.63 million cap hit because of the $17.8 million signing bonus he received for Jacksonville.
Considering the Dolphins have $24 million in cap space leftover from this offseason’s spending spree, Miami could easily carry that charge without creating a financial burden. Plus, the compensatory pick Miami could acquire for losing Fournette as a free agent if he signed elsewhere in 2021 is a bonus.
The Jaguars declined Fournette’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason, meaning that the back is primed to hit the open market in 2021. To maximize his value he’ll need to have a productive 2020 season and must clean up his image as a malcontent in Jacksonville.
So there’s very little downside to claiming Fournette, especially considering Miami had the NFL’s worst rushing attack last season and have four other tailbacks on short-term deals that feature very little financial commitment.
“All [the tailbacks] are capable — competitive guys,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. “They are all different styles of backs.....They are a hard working group. A competitive group. Those are the things I’m looking for.”
But what about game-changing talent?
That’s what a healthy Fournette has been.
Adding Fournette to the fold would simply provide the Dolphins some insurance and a possible upgrade from Myles Gaskin, a 2019 seventh-round pick who has had a strong training camp, and Patrick Laird, a former California standout who made Miami’s 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie.
Flores envisions the Dolphins being a physical team that can consistently run the ball, and that’s exactly the opposite of what they were last season.
That’s why claiming Fournette could go a long way toward helping Miami deliver that type of rushing attack and being the tough, physical team Flores hopes the Dolphins will become.
Since the Miami Dolphins are still in the collecting talent stage of this franchise’s rebuild, there’s no reason they shouldn’t put in a waiver claim on recently released tailback Leonard Fournette.
While the Dolphins have two starting caliber tailbacks in Jordan Howard and Matt Breida, both player’s injury history hints that Miami could use another front-line talent to supplement the tailback unit and enhance the rushing attack.
And Fournette has certainly proven his worth the past three seasons, rushing for 2,631 yards and scoring 17 rushing touchdowns on the 666 carries he’s had in the 33 games he’s played in the past three seasons.
Last season Fournette finished with a career-best 1,152 rushing yards on 4.3 yards a carry and three touchdowns. He also led the Jacksonville Jaguars in receptions (76) and added 522 receiving yards to his totals.
The 24-year-old has caught 134 passes for 1,009 yards and two touchdowns during his tenure with the Jaguars, which released the disgruntled tailback they’ve been trying to trade the entire offseason.
[Most Read Dolphins Coverage] Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick returns despite grieving his deceased mother »
The Dolphins are fifth on the waiver wire claim order, which mirrors the 2020 NFL draft at this point. That means the Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions and New York Giants would have to pass on Fournette for Miami to secure the former LSU standout and his contract. But anything is possible now that he’s up for grabs if the Jaguars formally release him instead of trading him to another team, like Miami tried to do with Kalen Ballage. He was supposed to be released last week but ended up being traded to the New York Jets — before failing a physical to nix the deal.
Fournette is slated to earn $4,167,393 in the final year of his rookie deal as the No. 4 pick of the 2017 NFL draft, and he carries a $8.63 million cap hit because of the $17.8 million signing bonus he received for Jacksonville.
Considering the Dolphins have $24 million in cap space leftover from this offseason’s spending spree, Miami could easily carry that charge without creating a financial burden. Plus, the compensatory pick Miami could acquire for losing Fournette as a free agent if he signed elsewhere in 2021 is a bonus.
The Jaguars declined Fournette’s fifth-year option earlier this offseason, meaning that the back is primed to hit the open market in 2021. To maximize his value he’ll need to have a productive 2020 season and must clean up his image as a malcontent in Jacksonville.
So there’s very little downside to claiming Fournette, especially considering Miami had the NFL’s worst rushing attack last season and have four other tailbacks on short-term deals that feature very little financial commitment.
“All [the tailbacks] are capable — competitive guys,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. “They are all different styles of backs.....They are a hard working group. A competitive group. Those are the things I’m looking for.”
But what about game-changing talent?
That’s what a healthy Fournette has been.
Adding Fournette to the fold would simply provide the Dolphins some insurance and a possible upgrade from Myles Gaskin, a 2019 seventh-round pick who has had a strong training camp, and Patrick Laird, a former California standout who made Miami’s 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie.
Flores envisions the Dolphins being a physical team that can consistently run the ball, and that’s exactly the opposite of what they were last season.
That’s why claiming Fournette could go a long way toward helping Miami deliver that type of rushing attack and being the tough, physical team Flores hopes the Dolphins will become.
No don't go get him.
If he was all he is cracked up to be he would have been snapped up by someone pre draft for a pick of some kind, the Fins are looking for players with the kind of character they want not taking on players with dubious traits.
Pretty certain if they were interested someone would be putting a call in to Terry Robiskie
Sure he’ll find a home somewhere, have a good enough season, then next years negotiatons will begin, but not here please.
If he was all he is cracked up to be he would have been snapped up by someone pre draft for a pick of some kind, the Fins are looking for players with the kind of character they want not taking on players with dubious traits.
Pretty certain if they were interested someone would be putting a call in to Terry Robiskie
Sure he’ll find a home somewhere, have a good enough season, then next years negotiatons will begin, but not here please.
Seems NFL teams might know something we the fans don't, if no team even bothered to offer even a 7th or even 6th for a RB of his pedigree.
hoops
Tua time!
Yeah you don’t claim him and pick up that contract or what’s left of it.
you let him hit the street and sign him for dirt. I betcha thats the real issue here. The money
tbat said I dont see Flores making this move
you let him hit the street and sign him for dirt. I betcha thats the real issue here. The money
tbat said I dont see Flores making this move
I believe that as well.
One of the biggest reason why we should not even consider him right there.
If he's deserving of being claimed according to Omar, then that's more then enough reason for me not to want any part of Fournette.
Has Kelly ever been correct on the talent of a player? :thumbsdown
gregorygrant83
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He's a young player I would take a chance on. Just 25 years old. Ricky Williams was 25 when he came to Miami... Reggie Bush was 26. Fournette, Tua, Preston Williams, Devante Parker and Mike Gesicki could be a decent offensive unit to build around.
Tank for Lawrence