Fansided

NFL Draft rumors: 49ers interested in Leonard Fournette

By Brad Berreman

Nov 12, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs during the first quarter of the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Fayetteville, AR, USA; LSU Tigers running back Leonard Fournette (7) runs during the first quarter of the game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Leonard Fournette may be the first running back drafted later this month, and another team with a top-five pick has rumored interest.

Despite being hampered by an ankle injury during his final season at LSU, Leonard Fournette is still a sure-fire first round pick and he may be the first running back drafted. Some mock drafts have him going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 4 overall, and the Carolina Panthers at No. 8 overall look like a great fit.

Fournette visited the Cincinnati Bengals, who have the ninth overall pick and clear interest in drafting a running back, on Tuesday. But another team that has an even higher pick may also be interested in Fournette.

After a far-fetched rumor indicating the Cleveland Browns may consider taking Fournette with the No. 1 overall pick on Monday, the team with the next pick has thrown their hat in the ring.

According to Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst.com, the San Francisco 49ers are “very high” on Fournette and are seriously considering taking him second overall. New 49ers’ general manager John Lynch has yet to find a top draft prospect he won’t publicly offer some sort of shining assessment of, so finding any real indication of who they’ll take No. 2 overall is difficult. Which is the point, of course, with a nod to Lynch’s experience in the media.

Running back is not toward the top of San Francisco’s list of draft needs, with Carlos Hyde atop the depth chart coming off his best season (988 rushing yards, nine total touchdowns) and Tim Hightower recently signed in free agency. But Hyde has also struggled to stay healthy, missing 14 games over three seasons, and he’s currently working his way back from a torn MCL late last season.

Next: NFL Mock Draft: Jets, Browns land quarterbacks

The 49ers letting out some buzz about their interest in Fournette has one real objective-to compel another team to trade up for him. The Browns did the same on Monday, with the same idea, so maybe a report is coming on Wednesday suggesting the Chicago Bears have interest in Fournette.

Home/NFL Offseason