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Tennessee Titans offseason prep: Free agent RBs

By Will Lomas

NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Dion Lewis #33 of the Tennessee Titans runs downfield against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 6: Dion Lewis #33 of the Tennessee Titans runs downfield against the Jacksonville Jaguars during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium on December 6, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Silas Walker/Getty Images) /
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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is gang tackled by the Baltimore Ravens in the second half during the game at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 10: Le’Veon Bell #26 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is gang tackled by the Baltimore Ravens in the second half during the game at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Le’veon Bell

So, it is no secret that the ugly, ugly breakup between both Antonio Brown and the player we will be talking about here (Le’veon Bell) will dominate the offseason with rumors and speculation.

How often is it that the two pieces that a franchise presumed they could build around, both left in the same offseason after very successful campaigns in their last season?

Let’s focus on Bell for now. The former Pittsburgh Steelers star will be 27 this season and will come in after a full year off from football. Now, whether he has rusted during that time or rested will be a huge topic of debate at least until next September, but what is clear is that he is clearly someone who is thinking about how to make their career the absolute best.

After leading the NFL in touches (not rushes, touches) in 2017, Bell sat out and assumed that he could hold out and that his demands would be met. I mean, over the last two seasons Bell had averaged 143.4 yards per game which is insane!

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Long story short, those demands weren’t met and he wasn’t signed to a long term deal and will be a free agent this offseason.

One of my podcast co-hosts Luke Worsham has long said that he believes that Bell is talented, but that he was a product of his offensive line and a great passing game that opened things up. While I was skeptical, it is hard to argue when James Conner goes out and as a 2nd year player averages 110 yards per game.

Connor’s season was devastating to Bell’s market value as it showed that the difference between him and his backup boiled down to 30 yards per game. Whew.

So, what to do now? If I was the Tennessee Titans front office, I would obviously sniff around Bell and see what he was looking for but I am going to guess that someone will pay him the $15+ million per year that he is wanting and that is just too much for me.

The Titans could spend just $4 million or so more and grab an elite pass rusher which is such a bigger need for them right now. Or they could use that same $15 million and go out and get a combo like Preston Smith and Margus Hunt and address two needs with the same cap hit.

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