5 teams that should be lining up bids for Le'Veon Bell in 2019
The 2018 season is likely to be Le'Veon Bell's last with the Pittsburgh Steelers, according to his agent, Adisa Bakari.
For the second consecutive offseason, Bell and the Steelers failed to agree to a long-term deal, paving the way for the running back to test free agency in 2019.
If the two-time All-Pro will indeed hit the open market in eight months, there are five teams, in particular, that should be lining up to acquire his services.
Denver Broncos
Depth chart: Devontae Booker, Royce Freeman, De'Angelo Henderson
2019 cap space: $9.7 million
The Broncos are currently set to enter the 2018 season with the trio of Devontae Booker, De'Angelo Henderson, and rookie Royce Freeman at running back. If general manager John Elway wants to take advantage of Denver's championship window, he could start by giving some attention to the team's running game.
The Broncos rank dead last in cap dollars tied to running backs for 2018, according to Spotrac. Yet the team has invested heavily in quarterback Case Keenum and a horde of receivers to get its offense up to speed with its No. 3-ranked defense.
After winning Super Bowl 50, Denver has been given some leeway the past two seasons, but the pressure is now on for the team to return to the postseason and take advantage of Von Miller's prime years.
The addition of Bell would vault the Broncos into the contender bracket, but it would take some roster management. They're currently set to enter 2019 with just $9 million in cap space. While the team could shed the expensive contracts of Menelik Watson, Demaryius Thomas, and Emmanuel Sanders, it would run counterintuitive to its current plan of action.
However, if young wideouts Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton take to the pro ranks immediately, it would make Thomas and Sanders expendable, and open the door for Elway to make a play for Bell.
Besides, we already know he can run in the snow.
Oakland Raiders
Depth chart: Marshawn Lynch, Doug Martin, DeAndre Washington
2019 cap space: $44.9 million
Bell would be the ideal successor to Marshawn Lynch.
When Beast Mode came out of retirement, he signed on for two seasons in his hometown of Oakland. After this season, there will be a gaping hole in the Raiders' backfield. The timing would be perfect for a pursuit of Bell if he's unable to come to terms with the Steelers following the 2018 campaign.
The Raiders could offer him the promise of championship contention, the allure of a move to Las Vegas in 2020, and the protection from one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
During his time in Pittsburgh, contract negotiations have been contentious between Bell and the Steelers. With the Raiders, he'd be dealing instead with Reggie McKenzie and head coach Jon Gruden, who have thus far had no such trouble handing out rich new deals to veterans.
Green Bay Packers
Depth chart: Aaron Jones, Ty Montgomery, Jamaal Williams
2019 cap space: $38 million
Enough is enough. It's time the Packers stopped experimenting with converted receivers and mid-to-late-round draft picks and really surrounded Aaron Rodgers with talent capable of winning a championship.
Rodgers will turn 34 in December but said this week he envisions playing until he's 40. That gives Green Bay six years to get its act together.
The Packers' last 1,000-yard rusher was Eddie Lacy back in 2014. Coincidentally, that was the season in which they came closest to returning to the Super Bowl, losing in overtime in the conference title game.
Of late, Green Bay has focused much of its attention on improving its defense. Under new general manager Brian Gutekunst, the team has been more active with player movement, giving hope the Packers could chase a big fish such as Bell.
They currently have $38 million in cap space to play with in 2019 when Randall Cobb and Clay Matthews' contracts run out, though a new deal will be owed to safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.
The Packers are currently ranked 29th out of 32 teams in positional spending to running backs ($3.2 million), according to Spotrac. That figure would significantly increase if they were to land Bell.
Cleveland Browns
Depth chart: Carlos Hyde, Nick Chubb, Duke Johnson
2019 cap space: $33.6 million
The Browns went quarterback over running back at the top of this year's draft when they opted against taking Saquon Barkley. The club chose instead to focus its attention on various other areas of need.
Cleveland can make due with Carlos Hyde and Duke Johnson for the time being, and second-round pick Nick Chubb is the presumed running back of the future, but the Browns likely didn't envision a scenario in which a marquee talent such as Bell could become available.
Flush with cap space and a desire for immediate improvement in the win-loss column, the Browns should swing for the fences and make a pitch for Bell if he is allowed to hit free agency next year. The running back previously stated his desire to play for a contender, but his negotiations with the Steelers make it all too clear he's intent on being the highest-paid running back in the sport, something the Browns can make happen.
Cleveland has already overhauled its quarterback room and receiving corps. The logical next step would be to add a playmaker at running back behind its expensive offensive line.
Baltimore Ravens
Depth chart: Alex Collins, Javorius Allen, Kenneth Dixon
2019 cap space: $23.8 million
Which franchise knows how dangerous Bell can be better than the Ravens do?
For five seasons, Bell has tormented the Ravens, averaging 118 total yards in nine games. His nose for the end zone grows particularly strong when facing Baltimore, as he's scored 10 touchdowns against the division rival, with the next closest opponent being Cincinnati, against which he's scored five times.
Baltimore has struggled for years to find consistency in the running game. Justin Forsett was the last back to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark, accomplishing the feat in 2014. Bell would immediately put those concerns to rest.
Entering 2018, the Ravens have just $3.6 million tied up in their six rushers. That figure drops to $2.5 million in 2019 if Javorius Allen and Alex Collins (who each will make less than $1 million in 2018) are allowed to hit free agency. It's time the team invested in the position.
There would be no better way for the Ravens to stick it to the Steelers (aside from beating them on the field) than to poach one of their best players.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)