Since the Pittsburgh Steelers designated the franchise tag onto star running back Le'Veon Bell for the second straight NFL offseason, there has yet to be any significant talk toward working out a new long-term extension prior to the July 16 deadline. This has led to the belief that Bell could be heading into a similar situation where he will have to play on the franchise tag with eyes toward hitting the 2019 free agent market.
It has also brought forth several other possibilities that Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network has suggested could see the 26-year-old take the same route as his former Michigan State teammate Kirk Cousins did earlier this offseason.
From @NFLTotalAccess: Despite AB’s advice, no expectation that #Steelers see Le’Veon Bell before they did last year … perhaps setting the stage for him to follow the path of old teammate Kirk Cousins next year. @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/ivHqVb73FI
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 24, 2018
In Cousins' case, he had decided to play this past season on the franchise tag for the second straight year that saw him put together another highly productive campaign. It also put the Washington Redskins in the position of having to decide whether they were willing to offer him an increased salary pushing nearly $30 million. The Redskins instead elected to let Cousins walk in free agency where he received a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
This isn't to suggest that he will garner a fully guaranteed deal, but there could be plenty of teams presenting lucrative offers to him on the open market. Bell is arguably the best overall running back talent in the league that is coming off yet another highly productive campaign he finished third in the league with 1,291 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns and a career-best 85 catches for 655 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns. His 85 receptions are the most by a running back in a single season in team history. Meanwhile, his 1,946 total scrimmage yards were second in the NFL and the third most in a single season in franchise history.
There is still plenty that could change in the coming weeks ahead of the extension deadline, but the two sides are unable to hammer out a new deal it may very well see him take the same path of his former collegiate teammate.
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