New York Jets tagged as favorites to land Le’Veon Bell
By Erik Lambert
The New York Jets have a clear agenda going into 2019. That’s to do everything in their power to make Sam Darnold a success as a quarterback.
That will involve surrounding him with as many weapons as they can get their hands on. The great news is they’ll be well-equipped to do so. Not only are they slotted to have another top 10 pick next April, but also a massive amount of salary cap space. Current estimates are at over $106 million. This means they can go hunting for potential star power in free agency without too much fear of overpaying even if conventional wisdom says they are.
The big question is who they may target. As things stand they could absolutely afford to upgrade their receiving corps, the tight end position, and the offensive line. However, one thing that would instantly ease the pressure on Darnold is a featured running back they could feed the ball 20-25 times a game. Field Yates of ESPN seems to think Le’Veon Bell would be perfect for them.
"“No other contract saga came close to dominating the headlines in 2018 like Bell’s did, with the chance to hit the market looming after he sat out the entire season. It’s going to take a team willing to pay Bell at the top of the running back market ($15 million per season) if not reset it, something he ultimately desires. Bell’s versatility and talent are undeniable, but it’s going to take to a cap-flush team with a need for immediate offensive upgrades to acquiesce to Bell’s wishes. Which brings me back to a particular franchise whose fortunes will be dictated by the development of a young quarterback and building a supporting cast around him.”"
The Jets and Bell seem like a match made in heaven
It certainly is a scenario that makes sense. Bell has been away from football all season, is one of the rare players who stuck to their holdout even after their team made a final offer. The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t give him the numbers he wanted, so he stayed away. Odds are with Pro Bowler James Conner in place, the Steelers will let him hit the open market next year rather than franchise tagging him a second time.
New York needs a running back and they have a boatload of money to spend. It’s not too hard to make the connection. Whether the Jets will be willing to touch the range that Bell wants is the big question. He’ll be 27-years old in February. Conventional wisdom says a team should never pay a running back top dollar as he draws closer to 30. Granted he missed a full year that didn’t wear and tear on his body, but Bell had plenty of mileage built up already.
Can New York afford it? Yes, but this may be a case where the length of the contract can play a big role in whether a deal gets done or not.