Le’Veon Bell, running back, Pittsburgh Steelers
There wasn’t much drama unfold between Bell and Pittsburgh as the team placed the dreaded franchise tag on the star running back. This means that Bell will more than likely be back in Pittsburgh next season.
That’s huge news for the Steelers, especially considering Bell has taken over for Ben Roethlisberger as the face of the team’s offense in recent years. This past season saw the 27-year-old running back put up 1,884 yards and nine touchdowns in just 12 games. He also averaged 5.6 yards per touch while catching 75 passes out of the backfield.
However, there are some major questions that need to be raised here before concluding Bell will be in for a huge payday next March. First off, he was suspended three games last season for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Another dirty test will result in a 10-game ban.
Secondly, the running back position has been of no value to teams in free agency. Just look a the deals Eddie Lacy, Marshawn Lynch, Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Charles received this spring. Sure Bell stands above all of those backs, but that should definitely be taken into account.
Some will argue that Bell’s $12.1 million salary for 2017 is more than reward enough for his recent performance. The issue here is that it provides him no real long-term security.
With the second-highest annual average at running back currently sitting at $8 million per, Bell will need to prove himself to come close to his 2017 salary on a new long-term deal. That includes remaining healthy, continuing to show elite production and staying out of trouble off the field.