To re-sign or not to re-sign Leonard Fournette?

That is certainly the question on both the Buccaneers and Buccaneers fans minds these days. Fournette has been a mainstay in the offense ever since he became "Playoff Lenny" during the Buccaneers' championship run. Obviously, the production has been lauded throughout the franchise and fan base.

But it's a different story when it comes to paying Fournette for said production.

2021 was a very solid year for Fournette. He logged over 1,250 scrimmage yards while setting career-highs in both yards per carry (4.5) and yards per touch (5.1) as he slowly but surely took over the lead role. He really improved his pass blocking, too. Per Pro Football Focus, he finished with a strong pass blocking grade in nine of the 13 games in which he recorded a pass blocking snap.

What really stood out about Fournette's season, though, is his development into a three-down back over the course of the season. This is backed up by the tape and the fact that he logged a minimum of 81% of offensive snaps in three straight games before he went down against the Saints in Week 15.

For instance, from Weeks 1-9, Giovani Bernard ran 39 routes and had 11 targets on third down compared to Fournette's 21/3, per Sports Info Solutions. However, Bernard ran 15 routes and had just two targets while Fournette had a 14/3 mark from Weeks 10-13. Also, Bernard ran 40% of those routes on 3rd and 7+ compared to a 28% mark for Lenny over that span.

It's safe to say that Fournette outpaces Bernard and takes even more snaps from Gio if Fournette doesn't get hurt. It's also safe to assume Fournette continues to take the majority of snaps if the Buccaneers re-sign him.

That's the biggest reason why the Buccaneers need to bring him back. Three-down backs are rare in the NFL and while the running back position is not what it used to be, there are plenty of advantages that come with having that type of player on your roster. Having back like Fournette also doesn't tip the offense's hand. He's a solid runner and a good receiver, therefore, defenses will have to remain honest.

Continuity is key, as well. Especially when Tom Brady is involved. One reason why he had so much success in New England is because the Patriots kept certain guys around for long periods of time. Rob Gronkowski, James White, Julian Edelman, Troy Brown, David Givens, Kevin Faulk, Deion Branch, hell, even Danny Amendola -and more- all won Super Bowls with Brady because they played together for multiple years. Keeping Fournette in the mix follows that blueprint that's proven successful.

Retaining Fournette could also allow the Buccaneers to carry three backs into the 2022 season, if they wish. Based off last year, he would take the majority of the snaps and wouldn't leave much on the bone for the other two backs, much less three.

Put it this way: Ke'Shawn Vaughn was a healthy scratch on five different occasions and played just 17 snaps on offense through 13 games before Lenny went down in Week 15. There just wasn't any room for Vaughn with Fournette, Bernard, and Ronald Jones II in the mix. But that changed once Fournette went down.

With the Bucs facing a cap crunch in 2022, they'll need to maximize their roster as much as possible. If they carry three backs, it opens up a roster spot that may be needed elsewhere. This staff has carried three backs on the roster, before. Bruce Arians and Co. went into the 2019 season with Peyton Barber, Ronald Jones II, and Dare Ogunbowale, which allowed them to create room elsewhere.

Allocating the right resources throughout the roster is a better process than over-saturating a position and Fournette can certainly help the Buccaneers avoid the latter.

And that will also help Tampa Bay save some money, which goes a long way in 2022, as well. Let's say, hypothetically, the Buccaneers bring back Giovani Bernard on another minimum deal a la his $1.075 million deal in 2021. Vaughn is set to count close to $1.3 million against the cap in 2022. That's just a little less than $2.375 million allocated toward running backs. If the Bucs can get Lenny on a deal with let's say, a $4 million cap hit in 2022, then that's $6.375 million they'll spend on running backs. That's $1 million less than what they spent in 2021 and would've been the 10th-lowest amount spent on the position, as well. It's not a boatload of cash, but every penny counts when you're dead last in cap space like the Bucs. They could save even more depending on how they structure Fournette's deal and to where even a minimum-salary player won't make the savings a wash.

Of course, all of this is conditional. But the key part is it's all possible and there are clear, inherent advantages that come with re-signing Fournette.

And that in itself is worthy of a discussion.

Featured image via Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports