Jets Interested In Steelers Running Back
The Pittsburgh Steelers are entertaining offers for running back Le'Veon Bell, who has sat out the first three weeks of the season over a contract dispute, and one AFC team has emerged as a possible landing spot.
Citing sources, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News is reporting that the New York Jets have "reached out" to the Steelers "to express interest" in acquiring the 26-year-old Bell.
The Steelers have gotten excellent production out of rookie running back James Conner, who was a key part of their Week 3 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Throw in the tension and drama revolving around Bell, and there's every incentive for the Steelers to move on from Bell.
The Pro Bowl back hasn't signed his $14.54 million franchise tender, and is losing $855,000 with every game he sits out, per Mehta. He also noted that the team that trades for Bell would probably want assurance that he'll sign an extension, though league rules forbid that from happening during the season.
RELATED: LE'VEON BELL POSTS CRYPTIC TWEET DURING STEELERS CONTRACT HOLDOUT
Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY SportsThe Steelers would likely seek draft pick compensation in a trade for Bell. The Jets most certainly wouldn't give up their first-rounder, and their 2019 second-round selection was packaged to the Indianapolis Colts so they could move up and take quarterback Sam Darnold with the third selection.
Darnold has shown some flashes early in his career, and adding a running back of Bell's caliber would put the Jets offense on another level. But the Steelers could be hesitant to trade Bell inside the conference, and playoff contenders may be willing to offer more than Bell.
The Jets sit at 1-2 and probably won't be a playoff team in 2018, so it may be a wise decision to pass on trading for Bell right now. With so much cap space for 2019, they could wait until free agency and out-bid the other teams for Bell's services.
We'll see how it all unfolds over the next several weeks.
