LeGarrette Blount will visit Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday
New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount (29) runs against the Indianapolis Colts in the second half during the 2013 AFC divisional playoff football game at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark L. Baer-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Steelers were initially set to host New England Patriots free agent running back LeGarrette Blount today and tomorrow, but his visit has been pushed back to Friday. Per league sources close to the National Football Post’s Aaron Wilson, the Steelers are looking to bring him in on Friday so that his visit occurs after the league meetings. Wilson writes that this will allow head coach Mike Tomlin and GM Kevin Colbert to meet with Blount on his visit, and it will be interesting to see if he signs with the Steelers on the visit.
“No deal is imminent” right now, per Wilson, and Blount also has interest from the Patriots and Ravens. But of the three teams linked to the 27-year-old back, the Steelers make the most sense as a landing spot. Even though the Pats could use him after helping him get back on track by actually noticing how good he is, the Steelers simply have a much bigger need at the running back position. Young gun Le’Veon Bell has all the tools to be a good feature back in this league, but the Steelers need a better RB2 behind him. Blount would be a very nice No. 2 guy, and the running back duo of Bell and Blount would be one of the best in the league.
The rival Baltimore Ravens also have interest in Blount, but I don’t see them as the best fit. They didn’t get much production out of Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce, but there’s no question that both of those guys are talented and were clearly hurt by some horrific blocking in front of them. Unless if the Ravens plan on axing Rice, I couldn’t see them finding space for Blount.
As for the Patriots, they have a solid group of RBs without Blount in Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen, and Brandon Bolden and would also likely take a flier on a late-round RB (think Ben Malena or Henry Josey). They weren’t able to re-sign Blount before free agency and this was always expected, but there’s a legitimate chance he sticks around in Foxboro.