Leonard Fournette urges Buccaneers to stick with Jalon Daniels over Baker Mayfield

Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette hasn’t been shy in serving up hot takes about the team recently.

Just a few weeks after calling for Todd Bowles to be fired, Fournette is now weighing in on the quarterback position, stirring up some QB controversy in Tampa Bay.

Leonard Fournette makes his case Jalon Daniels over Baker Mayfield as Buccaneers starting QB

In the latest episode of the 4th and South Podcast, Fournette vouched for Jalon Daniels to hold onto the starting quarterback job, even when Baker Mayfield returns from injury.

“Jalon Daniels is the perfect fit for the Bucs right now. They’re winning. When Baker was back there they weren’t winning nothing. So I think it was a blessing and a curse, I’m not wishing for nobody to get hurt, but at the same time he’s giving them more opportunity to win,” Fournette said.

Fournette went as far as to say that Mayfield and Daniels are on even playing field in the decision-making department due to Baker’s proclivity for turning the football over.

Fournette’s sentiment comes off as an egregious overreaction, considering the Bucs are 1-1 with Daniels at the helm. This isn’t a team who has gone on a long winning streak with their backup quarterback to the point where there’s any discussion to be had on who should be the starter.

In the loss to the Green Bay Packers, Daniels’ two interceptions cost the Buccaneers the game. In their win over the Dallas Cowboys last week, Daniels did rebound and played a clean, efficient game, but he also got a boost from a strong rushing attack spearheaded by Bucky Irving’s 165-yard performance.

That doesn’t take anything away from the rookie, who finished 19-of-25 for 189 yards and a touchdown, but Mayfield didn’t have that support from the running game during his 0-3 start, so it’s unfair to suggest that Daniels has already proven himself to be the better option after just one win.

Still, Fournette is insistent that Daniels gives the Buccaneers the best chance to win right now.

“At the end of the day, what can you do for me now. They’re winning. I say keep Daniels in until we figure it out. Yes, Baker got a $100 million contract, but damn that. We want to win, Coach.”

Luckily, Fournette’s co-host and Mayfield’s former teammate Jarvis Landry was there to provide some much-needed pushback.

Landry was adamant that Mayfield is a winner and will play good football for the Buccaneers when he returns as the starter. While Landry is impressed by Daniels too, he views him as a quality backup, rather than a threat to replace Mayfield as the franchise quarterback.

Landry is on the right side of this debate. There is no quarterback controversy in Tampa Bay. Mayfield is the starting quarterback, and while he certainly wasn’t playing well prior to his injury, he’s still the heart and soul of this Buccaneers team, and they can’t wait to have their leader back on the field.

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