Steelers GM Kevin Colbert told reporters on Wednesday that they will not use either the franchise or transition tag on RB Le’Veon Bell and will allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.
“Le’Veon is still a great player,” Colbert said, per Jeremy Fowler. “We can’t afford to use any other type of tags. Le’Veon will be an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year.”
Reports from the past few months had said the Steelers were planning to transition tag Bell and attempt to work out a trade with another team. However, it would have been difficult for them to pull off, given that Bell would need to sign the tender in order for them to trade him and could just refuse to do so.
Bell reportedly turned down a five-year, $70 million offer from the Steelers that included $33 million guaranteed, so he’ll be looking to top those numbers in free agency.
Bell, 26, is a former second-round pick of the Steelers back in 2013. He played out the final year of his four-year, $4,120,600 rookie contract, but Pittsburgh used their franchise tag on him.
Last year, the Steelers decided to franchise Bell for the second straight year, but he elected to hold out the entire 2018 season and set himself up for free agency in 2019.
In 2017, Bell appeared in 15 games for the Steelers and rushed for 1, 291yards on 321 carries (4 YPC) to go along with 85 receptions for 655 yards receiving and 11 total touchdowns. Pro Football Focus had him rated as the No. 9 running back out of 58 qualifying players.
We have him featured in our Top 100 – 2019 NFL Free Agents list.
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