Kansas City Chiefs: New Le’Veon Bell favorites for 2019?
The Kansas City Chiefs are moving on without Kareem Hunt. Could their opening at running back make them Le’Veon Bell favorites?
After TMZ released some shocking footage of Kansas City Chiefs star running back Kareem Hunt assaulting a female, the Chiefs cut their superstar running back sending shockwaves through the NFL world on the last day of November.
Hunt had been one of the best running backs in football since the start of his rookie season in 2017, averaging nearly 80 yards per game (2,151 yards total in 27 games) with 79 receptions for an additional 833 receiving yards.
He racked up 25 total touchdowns in that time, proving himself to be a very valuable piece of the Chiefs’ star-studded offense.
The Chiefs now have Spencer Ware leading their rushing attack and former Miami Dolphins running back Damien Williams backing him up. They definitely have a need for a featured runner, though Ware has proven himself capable in the NFL as well.
Despite the fact that Ware is a good enough back to fill in for Hunt right now, the Chiefs might look to make a splash at that position this offseason when Le’Veon Bell finally becomes a free agent.
Bell decided to hold out this whole season after the Pittsburgh failed to meet his demands on a long-term contract.
One of the best all-around backs in the NFL, Bell will be one of the more sought after free agents on the open market, and the Chiefs will have assets available to pursue him if they so choose.
For Andy Reid’s defense and how much he asks of his running backs not only carrying the ball out of the backfield but catching passes, Bell could be the perfect fit.
The Chiefs would obviously have preferred to not be in this type of situation, and perhaps spending a ton of money on the running back position — especially one who has also had some run-ins with the league before — is not high on their priority list.
But from a football standpoint, bringing Le’Veon Bell into the mix with Patrick Mahomes and company would actually represent — in my mind — an upgrade for Kansas City.
They can afford it, too.
Next. 2019 NFL mock draft update. dark
Kansas City will be armed with more than $44 million in cap space this offseason. They may try to be wise with shorter-term contracts given the fact that they will have to pay some of their own stars in the near future, but if they had plans in the future to pay Hunt, perhaps they could accelerate that plan and pay Bell now.