The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a “serious suitor” for former Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette, according to a report on Twitter from SI.com’s Albert Breer. Fournette, the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, was released by Jacksonville on Tuesday as the Jaguars wanted to go in a different direction at running back.

The Buccaneers have emerged as a serious suitor for RB Leonard Fournette, sources say. Not done, but there’s serious interest there.

So another weapon for Tom Brady may be on its way.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) September 2, 2020

The Bucs’ backfield already has Ronald Jones II, the team’s second-round pick in the 2018 draft, as the starter, with newly acquired veteran LeSean McCoy as the backup and a contender for the role as the third-down back along with Dare Ogunbowale, who had that role last season. The Bucs spent a third-round draft pick on Ke’Shawn Vaughn out of Vanderbilt, but he has underwhelmed in training camp.

Tampa Bay would either keep five running backs on the 53-man roster if it were to add Fournette, or replace Vaughn or Ogunbowale with Fournette if he could be signed. The Bucs have just over $1.4 million worth of available salary cap space, according to Spotrac.com, but more cap room could be created by going to a veteran player and converting base salary into a roster bonus.

The New England Patriots are also reported to be interested in signing Fournette.

Former Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

Fournette has rushed for 2,631 yards and 17 touchdowns in his three years in Jacksonville, while averaging 4.0 yards per carry. Fournette rushed for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns as a rookie in 2017 before an injury-plagued year in 2018. The LSU product rebounded last year with a career-high 1,152-yard season and three touchdowns, while averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

When Fournette faced the Bucs’ top-ranked run defense in 2019, he totaled just 38 yards on 14 carries.

In addition to helping the Bucs’ ground game, Fournette could also be a weapon in the passing game for Tom Brady. The 6-foot, 228-pound running back has caught 134 passes for 1,009 yards and two scores in his three-year NFL career, including a career-high 76 receptions for 522 yards in 2019.