The top priority for the Pittsburgh Steelers this upcoming offseason will be finding a way to re-sign star running back Le'Veon Bell to a lucrative long-term deal.
There are several ways the Steelers can approach this situation with Bell. Field Yates of ESPN speculates that the team could still go the route of temporarily using the franchise tag to help provide them a longer window to work out a new contract.
While Bell at one point suggested he’d be disappointed if the Steelers franchised him again, it’s the starting point for Pittsburgh (with a price tag just north of $14.5 million). One factor in the decision on Bell is a team’s philosophy on paying running backs on long-term deals, as some believe the position is more replaceable than others. But letting Bell — perhaps the league’s most complete back — walk away would set back a high-octane offense.
Verdict: Use the tag on Bell, but aim for a long-term deal.
This would be an interesting route for Pittsburgh to take given that Bell has already indicated that he doesn't want the franchise tag placed on him for a second straight offseason. He has stated that he would either sit out or retire if this came about once again. What should be noted is that the team did indicate it wanted to get a new contract in place by Feb. 20, which is the first day the franchise tag can be used.
That said, the Steelers have the full intention of inking Bell to a lucrative long-term deal that he desires. This would simply be used in the act of providing a longer window to work out a new contract. However, he could run the risk of being pigeon-holed under a one-year deal once again if the contract talks stall.
Bell has certainly played his way into position to earn a huge contract that would make him the highest-paid players at his position. He is in the prime of his career with several highly productive campaign ahead o him if he stays healthy. Ultimately, it's something to keep an eye on over the next few weeks.
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