According to Albert Breer of MMQB, the Seattle Seahawks made a big bet to “steal” the running back Leonard Fournette from Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Buccaneers RB Leonard Fournette is considering an offer to stay in Tampa (Brady is recruiting him back), but the Seahawks have made a strong offer to steal him. Stylistically, Seattle would be an interesting fit.
– Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 16, 2021
Breer’s tweet also says that Tom Brady is trying to recruit Fournette to return to Tampa. Of course, money is involved when Fournette hits the free agent market for the first time in the off-season (he was a free agent in the middle of the season last year after being cut by Jacksonville), so I assume Brady’s recruitment can only go to the pockets of Bucs.
According to Breer, the New England Patriots, which is super active in just a day and a half of free agency, is also at stake for Fournette. It would be a great story if Fournette chose to sign with New England instead of Tampa Bay, considering who the QB in Tampa is.
For those who are wondering, there were also no reports of Chris Carson’s return to Seattle, and interest in Fournette could mean warm feelings for fourth-year Rashaad Penny. With this report, it looks like the Seahawks will be looking for shorter (in years) and cheaper options than Carson, having already seen Carlos Hyde agree to follow Brian Schottenheimer for the Jacksonville Jaguars.