trade Bell and Steelers 2018 #1 pick for Overall #1 pick

I think we can get a franchise QB in 2018 for Bell and our #1 pick. Is this too much to give up? Would only Bell be enough for the overall #1 pick? I guess it depends on where our #1 pick falls in.

 

He has to sign a contract first.

 

They have the heir apparent in #30, and Bell knows is. I say get'r done!

 

Really hard for me to figure how a player can refuse to show up or practice with the team that is willing to pay him 12 plus million dollars a year. Yeah use him for trade bait to get a franchise QB for the future, Bell wants money and maybe pot more that he wants to play football.

 

He's still the best back in the NFL. If he wants to get paid he will sign the tender and play.

If he want's to make a strong case for a big contract elsewhere, then he will of course play very well. Its in his incentive to go hard for the 2017 season.

So once signed we can trade him for a #1. (Maybe) and if that maybe is fulfilled we can use it for a franchise QB (maybe)

Or we can just put the best back in NFL to work and try to win a super bowl.

These hypothetical fantasy mode power plays sound great in theory but thats just too many "ifs" to make good business sense. IMO.

 

Good Lord . . .

 

trading bell to the 49ers, Jets, Browns, or Rams might land us a top 3 pick.

 

Yep. I took him in fantasy because I think we're going to give him an enormous amount of touches.

 

Why would a team trade the #1 overall pick for a player they could just sign as a free agent?

 

Because franchise tagging him is still cheaper than the contract he wants. Is my guess.

 

That makes no sense. The Steelers would still be in the hook for his salary.

 

After Ben retires, there will be plenty of cap space

Even if Ben doesn't retire, the Steelers have 44 players under contract for 160 million (that includes Haden @ 10). And they could reduce that in many significant ways as they have numerous cheap ERFA they could re-sign, extending Shazier will save plenty, cutting guys like Gay, Golden, etc will save millions. They salary cap will likely be around 175 million next year.

The only major UFA they have besides Bell, is Tuitt... who, let's be honest, isn't a critical component.

The Steelers are in fantastic cap shape.

The Steelers could tag Bell, and then shop him for trade. If no one is interested, they can keep him again for around 14 million, before letting him walk.

 

The only way a trade would happen is if he was under long term contract. No way either side would have leverage to trade someone under the franchise tag. He will either sign long term or be gone in two seasons.

 

Can you even trade someone who is playing under the franchise tag? If they can agree to a long term contract, I do like the idea of trading for a potential franchise QB (and picks). The guy has too much baggage.

 

After reading all this i still do not know how to trade a guy that has not signed a contract. We all know, unless he gets injured, the offer the steelers give him will not be enough. That being said the only way we get anything out of him is to tag him. If we tag him the money is guaranteed and we couldn't get any value from him. So we cannot trade him. So i agree with the guy that says run his wheels off this year. Tag him to avoid LT deal. Run his wheels off again and then negotiate. As far as the QB goes. We will pick one up late in the first round in next years draft. He will be our new QB.

 

Steelers don't need to trade or give up any draft picks when Ben leaves. The season after Ben retires (next year) will be 6-10 or worse, so they will be picking in the top 10 in 2019. Then the Steelers will have the opportunity to get a franchise QB without selling the house.

 

Examples? Steelers really need to watch how this NCAA season pans out before making any impulsive moves. There hasn't been a sure shot blue chip QB out of the NCAA, in my opinion, since Andrew Luck.

Also.. Tom Brady was drafted in the 6th round. Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson and Drew Brees were not 1st rounders. Steelers may be able to get somebody good late in the first in 2018 or 2nd, 3rd rounds.