It appears running back Le’Veon Bell will play his final year for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but will he be an option for the Detroit Lions in 2019?
The Detroit Lions made major moves to improve their running game in 2018. First, they signed running back LeGarrette Blount as a free agent. Next, they drafted running back Kerryon Johnson and offensive lineman Frank Ragnow. They even drafted a fullback, Nick Bawden, in the final round of the draft. Surely this unit will be improved in 2018.
But what if it isn’t? Playing devil’s advocate, what if the Detroit Lions finish in the bottom five in rushing in the NFL this season? Enter the possibility of 2019’s best free agent on the market, running back Le’Veon Bell.
On Monday, Bell tweeted to his fans (and the rest of the world) that this will most likely be his last season in black and yellow for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
to all my Steeler fans, my desire always has been to retire a Steeler...both sides worked extremely hard today to make that happen, but the NFL is a hard business at times...to the fans that had hope, I’m sorry we let youu down but trust me, 2018 will be my best season to date...
— Le'Veon Bell (@LeVeonBell) July 16, 2018
Bell could arguably be the best running back in the game as of this post. When he hits the market in 2019, he’s sure to have plenty of teams vying for his services. He’s an offensive weapon that can run between the tackles, around the edge and has a burst in the secondary. He can swing out of the backfield in a third-down back role or even line up a receiver.
Frankly, calling him an offensive weapon seems modest for his versatility. And that’s most likely what kept him from being a Steeler for life. He’s too versatile for his position’s top end pay. And he’s asking to be paid handsomely for it.
Adisa Bakari, agent for #Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell, sums up negotiations like this: "They wanted to pay the position, not the player.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 16, 2018
So, continuing our little hypothetical situation with an unproductive running game in Detroit in 2018, does Bell become a front-runner for your wish list? The cost will certainly be a factor, especially with quarterback Matthew Stafford’s sizeable contract. And don’t forget the other players that are difference makers on this team about to hit the free agent market in 2019 as well.
Bell’s age and usage so far in his career should also be considered. Do you really want to drop serious cash on a long-term contract for a player that might slow down in a couple of years? Since he’s going to be a free agent, we can assume short-term contracts are off the table right now. Maybe if he’s not signed for a couple months in 2019 he will lose some leverage.
Next: Who is the most versatile running back in Lions' history?
What do you think? If this situation happened, would you keep carrying on with Kerryon? Or would you bring home a new Bell cow to tote the rock? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!