Le'Veon Bell was one of the biggest free agents on the market last offseason in NFL free agency and ended up signing a lucrative deal with the New York Jets. It was a move that many thought would take them back into contention, but unfortunately that has not been the case this season.
With just one week remaining in the regular season, the Jets are just 6-9. Head coach Adam Gase has had a lot of drama surrounding him and there is a chance that he could be on the hot seat next season. If that is the case, the Jets need to have as much talent on their roster as they possibly can.
On the season in 14 games, Bell has carried the football 229 times for 748 yards and three touchdowns. He has also caught 61 passes for 425 yards and a touchdown. Those numbers aren't what the fans were expecting from him, but they aren't horrible either.
There were rumors that the Jets were listening to trade offers for Bell at the trade deadline. Other rumors have surfaced that they could look to trade him this coming offseason.
All of that being said, here are three reasons why the Jets must hang on to Bell for at least one more year.
3. It Was His First Year Back
Let's not forget that Bell sat out the entire 2018 NFL season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. While he focused on staying in game shape, sitting out a year will have an impact on every player that chooses to do so. Bell got back onto the field and has struggled getting back up to game speed.
Giving him a full offseason of training and a full year under his belt would be wise. Giving up on him this early would be a massive mistake.
2. A Talent Like Bell Is Hard To Find
Next up we're going to go with an obvious statement. Bell may not have performed up to expectations this season, but there is no denying the talent that he possesses.
Throughout his entire career, Bell has been one of the best running backs in the NFL. He still has that talent and it will come out with patience. New York cannot afford to give up any offensive talent.
1. No One Will Trade Enough Value For Him
Finally, the Jets need to keep Bell because they aren't going to be able to get enough in return to trade him. While some teams would be willing to offer a third-round pick, maybe some would go as high as a late second-round pick, that simply isn't enough to trade a talent like Bell.
It would be much smarter for the Jets to give Bell another year and see how it goes. If he struggles again, the Jets could look to move on from him. However, he might just have a massive season and reward New York for hanging on for one more year.
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