Leonard Fournette ranked as Jaguars most overpaid player

Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette is amongst the most overpaid players in the NFL for this season based on his salary-cap figure.

Leonard Fournette can’t seem to catch a break. The Jacksonville Jaguars running back was recently praised for being one of the top 10 running backs in the NFL, per CBS Sports. Now, John Breech of the same publication has written his latest story, “Ranking the NFL’s 10 most overpaid players based on their salary cap hit for the 2020 season.”

And you guessed it. Fournette made the list.

"“When the Jaguars selected Leonard Fournette with the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, they probably thought he was going to be in Jacksonville for a while, but instead, he’s now the poster child for why you should almost never take a running back in the top-five,” Breech writes."

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Based on production over the past three seasons, it’s a fair argument to have. The road Fournette has taken with the Jacksonville Jaguars after leaving LSU following his junior season hasn’t been the smoothest one with the organization. After a season where he ran for the most rushing yards of his career in 2019, he is at a crossroads of sorts.

The front office worked on trying to trade him this offseason. David Caldwell, the team’s general manager, said Fournette will remain on the roster this season. But I have to wonder if a deal is offered in-season, by a playoff contender needing a bruising back, will the Jaguars bite on a deal?

"“The Jaguars have been so frustrated with Fournette that they didn’t even pick up the fifth-year option on his rookie deal,” Breech added. “Instead, he’ll almost certainly be leaving the team after 2020, but not before the Jags get hit with one more giant cap hit. Fournette’s $8.6 million hit in 2020 is the fifth-highest among all running backs for the upcoming season.”"

The 1,152 yards rushing last season were impressive given the lack of support he got from the offensive line last season. The 76 pass receptions were a great help to the offense last season and the 1600-plus yards from scrimmage were a major part of the offense in 2019.

We should not expect the same kind of production based on the new offensive game plan installed by Jay Gruden.

The addition of Chris Thompson to the offense is also an indication the running game will change once again. The former Washington Redskins runner is a legitimate third-down back who is going to figure in the passing game as well. His addition will take touches away from Fournette this season.

Fournette was ninth on Breech’s list.