Jaguars plan to keep Leonard Fournette

Dave Caldwell admitted to discussing Leonard Fournette in trades during the draft. But the eighth-year Jaguars GM expects Fournette to be back with the Jags this season.

“There were just some minor discussions with that but nothing substantial throughout the draft or prior to the draft,” Caldwell said during an appearance on the #PFTPM podcast (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “I think the mindset is that we’re going to go forward with Leonard on the team. I had a good talk with him on Friday. I know (Doug) Marrone has had some discussion with him. He seems to be in great shape and mental frame of mind, and we feel that he’ll have a great season this year.”

The Jaguars are believed to have begun shopping Fournette well before the draft, but strong interest did not emerge. The Jags discussed deals with the Dolphins and Bucs during the draft. Both teams went in different directions, with Miami trading for Matt Breida and Tampa Bay drafting Vanderbilt’s Ke’Shawn Vaughn in Round 3.

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Fournette is set to make $4.1M in fully guaranteed base salary this season. His contract contains no offset language. The Jags declined the former No. 4 overall pick’s fifth-year option. Although Fournette totaled a career-high 1,674 yards from scrimmage last season, the Jaguars hired a new OC in Jay Gruden.

Jacksonville signed former Gruden passing-down back Chris Thompson but has little depth behind Fournette. The team has 2019 fifth-rounder Ryquell Armstead, who averaged just 3.1 yards per carry as a rookie, and UDFA rookies behind its three-year starter.