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New York Jets: 3 Potential ways to acquire Le’Veon Bell

By Michael Pallas

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 12: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - NOVEMBER 12: Le'Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs with the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 12, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 14: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – JANUARY 14: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first half of the AFC Divisional Playoff game at Heinz Field on January 14, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

1. Hope Bell becomes a free agent

The Jets can wait things out in the negotiations too and not offer the Steelers anything. There are actually two ways Bell can become a free agent. One is more likely than the other. Let’s look at both.

The first would either be him signing the tag with the team that trades for him or with the Steelers — which seems unlikely at this point, but is more likely than the latter of the two ways Bell hits free agency. Let’s say he gets traded and signs the tag, but doesn’t re-sign in the offseason and tests the free agent market. The Jets would then only have to give up money for him, and it might be worth it at that point.

There’s another very highly unlikely way the Jets could acquire Bell, and it’s 2018 free agency. When Bell was given the franchise tag, no one envisioned this scenario, but there is a way for him to hit the open market this year. The Steelers can rescind the franchise tag, and then Bell would immediately become a free agent.

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In that case, the Jets wouldn’t have to give up anything for landing Bell. If the Steelers can’t find a trade partner, this might be their only recourse, and it would be a free agent frenzy in the middle of the season to land Bell. According to Spotrac, the Jets have over $19 million to spend in 2018. So, the Jets could offer him a front-loaded contract to mitigate the possibility of diminishing return on the backend of the contract.

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