Le'Veon Bell Rumors: Jets, Raiders, Eagles Have Best Odds To Sign Steelers' RB In 2019 Free Agency

Le’Veon Bell’s time with the Pittsburgh Steelers effectively came to an end Tuesday when he didn’t report to the team. That decision made the running back ineligible to return for the 2018 NFL season, and he’s almost certainly headed for free agency in the 2019 offseason.

Pittsburgh has made it clear that they won’t meet Bell’s contract demands, and they have no reason to use the transition tag on the All-Pro now that James Conner is performing so well. Bell will be one of the most sought-after players on the market, and there are already rumors regarding where he might end up.

The New York Jets are considered to be the early favorite to sign Bell after this season. They’ve got the best betting odds, followed by the Oakland Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers are among the other teams with better than 10/1 odds to acquire Bell.

New York arguably makes the most sense for a number of reasons. With a quarterback on his rookie contract, the Jets have the money necessary to pay Bell what he wants. The Jets needs help on offense more than almost anyone, considering they rank 29th in yards per game. Adding Bell would only help Sam Darnold in his development toward becoming a top quarterback.

Oakland might not be as realistic, given that the team seems to be rebuilding with an eye toward Las Vegas in 2020. The Raiders traded Khalil Mack before the season started when he wanted a new contract, and they traded Amari Cooper before they would have to give him a long-term deal.

The Buccaneers currently rank 29th in rushing yards per game. The Ravens are 27th. The Raiders are 24th and the Eagles are 22nd.