When Does Leveon Bell Have to Report to Avoid Being Franchise Tagged Again
Le'Veon Bell Franchise Tagged by Steelers: Latest Contract Details and Reaction
February 27, 2017 
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After averaging a career-high 105.7 rushing yards in 2016, Le'Veon Bell cashed in this offseason, but he may have to wait at least a year to collect the long-term extension he likely desires.
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced Monday they used the franchise tag on Bell. General manager Kevin Colbert and team owner Art Rooney II will continue negotiations with Bell on a new multiyear contract, but placing the franchise tag on him secures the immediate future.
ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert estimated the 2017 franchise tag to be worth a little over $12.7 million for a running back.
Bell hit the ground running—literally and figuratively—in his rookie season, rushing for 860 yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games. He also caught 45 passes for 399 yards. The former Michigan State Spartan then had a breakthrough 2014 campaign. His 2,215 yards from scrimmage were the second-highest total in the league.
The 2015 season didn't quite pan out as expected for Bell. He missed the first two weeks through suspension and then suffered a season-ending MCL injury against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.
The league suspended him for the first three games of 2016 following a violation of the substance-abuse policy. Upon returning, Bell wasted little time getting back to his best. He finished with 1,268 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 75 passes for 616 yards and two touchdowns.
There's no question Bell was deserving a lucrative long-term deal, but there's no guarantee he'd provide a full return on Pittsburgh's investment.
Bell is only 25, but his previous health history, combined with his role in the passing game, put him at further risk for injury. In addition, running backs also have a much more pronounced decline than those at other skill positions as they get older.
Sporting News' Mike DeCourcy argued last January the Steelers would be better off letting Bell walk at the end of the 2016 season rather than paying him like one of the league's best running backs:
He will command a significant contract, something on the order of the $40 million, five-year deals signed not long ago by DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy. Whoever pays Bell that kind of money will be making a common but extraordinary mistake. [...]
(Carolina Panthers cornerback Josh Norman) will be an unrestricted free agent when the Panthers' season concludes. If the Steelers are looking to invest a significant amount of their payroll into a single player during this offseason, that cash would be far better overspent on Norman to invigorate a secondary that is improved but still vulnerable than on a back who—through no particular fault of his own other than choosing to make a living as an NFL running back—was unable to finish either of the past two seasons.
Here are the 10 highest-paid running backs from the 2016 season, according to Spotrac, and how they performed:
| Running Backs—Highest Total Cash in 2016 | ||||||
| Player | Total Cash | Rush. Yards | Avg. | Rush. TD | Rec. Yards | Rec. TDs |
| Adrian Peterson | $12,000,000 | 72 | 1.9 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| Lamar Miller | $8,500,000 | 1,073 | 4.0 | 5 | 188 | 1 |
| Doug Martin | $7,764,706 | 421 | 2.9 | 3 | 134 | 0 |
| Chris Ivory | $7,468,750 | 439 | 3.8 | 3 | 186 | 0 |
| Giovani Bernard | $6,321,364 | 337 | 3.7 | 2 | 336 | 1 |
| DeMarco Murray | $6,100,000 | 1,287 | 4.4 | 9 | 377 | 3 |
| C.J. Anderson | $6,000,000 | 437 | 4.0 | 4 | 128 | 1 |
| Jonathan Stewart | $5,750,000 | 824 | 3.8 | 9 | 60 | 0 |
| Jamaal Charles | $5,312,500 | 40 | 3.3 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
| LeSean McCoy | $5,050,000 | 1,267 | 5.4 | 13 | 356 | 1 |
| Source: Spotrac | ||||||
Some, like DeCourcy, might argue Pittsburgh was better off spending big money on another position while looking elsewhere for a more cost-effective option at running back. Teams continue to find talented running backs in the later rounds of the NFL draft.
Even taking that into consideration, the Steelers are built to win right now, and with Ben Roethlisberger turning 35 in March, their Super Bowl window won't be open for too much longer. Keeping Bell was a necessity for the team this offseason.
Tagging Bell is costly in the short term but will help Pittsburgh get a better gauge of his long-term value. If he can avoid injury in 2017, he'll have a stronger case to warrant a lengthy deal should he and the Steelers fail to agree on an extension before the start of the season.
Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2612142-leveon-bell-franchise-tagged-by-steelers-latest-contract-details-and-reaction
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