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Related: Patriots face longest Super Bowls odds since 2001
The New England Patriots’ offensive backfield is one of the deepest in the NFL. Sony Michel and Damien Harris project to be a formidable one-two punch as the team’s early-down backs; Rex Burkhead and recently returned Lamar Miller are solid all-around options; James White is one of the best receiving backs in football; J.J. Taylor has drawn comparisons to ex-Patriot Dion Lewis in his first training camp as a pro. The unit’s upside is therefore evident.
And yet, New England is seen as the favorite to land arguably the top running back currently available: Leonard Fournette, who was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday.
According to BetOnline, the Patriots have 11/4 odds of signing the former first-round draft pick — tied with the Chicago Bears for best in the NFL:
- New England Patriots 11/4
- Chicago Bears 11/4
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7/2
- Washington Football Team 4/1
- Houston Texans 8/1
The Patriots have the financial resources to bring the fourth-year running back on board, but Fournette would have to pass through waivers to make it all the way to New England or free agency (which seems likely given his $8.64 million salary cap hit). If he makes it this far, the question becomes whether or not the team feels confident adding another player to an already deep position this late in the process.
That said, Fournette’s track record in the league is an impressive one despite Jacksonville parting ways with him: he is one of just seven players to average 100-plus yards from scrimmage per game since 2017, when the Jaguars drafted him fourth overall. All in all, the 25-year-old has 736 carries for 2,873 yards and 21 touchdowns on his résumé as well as 141 receptions for 1,053 yards and two more scores.
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