Jacksonville Jaguars declining Leonard Fournette's fifth-year option
The Jacksonville Jaguars are not picking up the fifth-year option on running back Leonard Fournette’s rookie contract, a league source confirmed Friday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to report Fournette’s contract status.
The Jaguars had until Monday to make a decision.
By declining Fournette’s option, he will be in the final year of his rookie four-year, $27.1 million contract this upcoming season. Fournette is due to make $4.17 million in 2020. He will count $8.64 million against Jacksonville’s salary cap. The Jaguars would have taken on $4.47 million in dead money by trading him.
The former LSU star is coming off a career year. He topped 1,600 yards from scrimmage in 15 games last season, carrying 265 times for 1,152 yards and catching 76 passes for 522 yards.
The 25-year-old Fournette has 2,631 yards rushing, 1,009 yards receiving and 19 touchdowns in three seasons since now-fired personnel chief Tom Coughlin selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Contributing: The Associated Press.
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