LeVeon Bell contract

After the last game of the regular season 2013 draft picks are eligible to get contract extensions per Profootballtalk.com, will the Steelers just pick up his 5th year option or sign him to a longterm deal? Maybe they can get a hometown discount, Bell is coming off a knee injury in consecutive seasons.

 

I'm not sure I would see the reason to sign him a long term deal if the option gives another year to see if he can stay healthy?

 

Lock him up to long term deal! But, I think we can wait until after the 7th of February

 

just bought his jersey, he better stick around for while.

 

Now that the NFL is a passing league, RBs aren't as important as they used to be and thus don't command ridiculous amounts of money. Bell is a rare talent who has had terrible luck with injuries. Most of the national media feel that he is currently the best RB in the game. I love Bell and I would be crushed if he didn't remain a Steeler. Both Bell and AB will need to be resigned. The salary cap is increasing, but to sign these two, there will be casualties. Perhaps Pouncey will be one of them.

 

If he leaves, just stitch Woodson above Bell and you'll be okay.

 

They didnt let Pouceys injuries keep them from signing him to a long term deal, Bell played in 29 games out of 32 in his first two years and he actually played in 16 games in 2014 before he was hyperextended in game 16, he isnt injury prone as some would make him out to be, he was durable for two years and has had this set back, but it certainly shouldnt be held against him at contract time.....

 

Bell's not going anywhere. They will lock him up before training camp. Here is a list of the current running backs salaries.

http://overthecap.com/position/running-back/

 

I just got his jersey a few months ago too xD

 

Yep and most of those big ones are pay per play not automatic money . I could see The Steelers locking him up pretty easy...

 

I doubt it. Pouncey accepted a contract restructure last year that deferred base salary into pro-rated bonus money this season and next, greatly magnifying his dead money hit if they were to release him. If they've persevered with him through a couple of fluke hits thus far, I don't see them cutting him loose while healthy and able to be productive. Depending on your point of view with regard to potential future health concerns, they have painted themselves into a corner with regard to his contract. The best scenario would be for him to return from this season a healthy and productive member of the roster for the next few years - it will be 2018 before they could reasonably afford to cut ties, though if he continues having issues staying on the field they may have to bite that bullet.

The coming offseason will be an interesting one for the FO - they have a number of players becoming UFA's, along with a group of better players set to enter the last year of their respective contracts. While it may sound easy to dismiss the former, there are some considerations to be had (e.g., three-quarters of a poor-performing, but cheaply-paid, secondary become FA's), especially with some of the greater talents on the horizon.

Here's a list of pending 2017 FA's:

Bell
Timmons
Miller
DeCastro
Wheaton
Jarvis
Villanueva
Boswell
___

DWill
V Williams
Wallace
Spaeth
Chickillo
___

Harrison
Landry Jones
Shamarko
Etc

I think Bell and DeCastro would be the main two targets for early extension; I'd look at Timmons as well with a $15M cap hit looming in 2016. He's still performing well at 30; he can still be a mainstay for another few years.

The LT situation will have to be evaluated at season's end. Villanueva is easily the cheaper option for the 2016 season, and perhaps is the man of the future there for the next few years (he is 27; Beachum 25), but that decision will need to be made. Perhaps they try to shift Beachum inside and lessen his salary impact, but he may or may not accept that move, depending on other offers.

Hard decisions will need to be made on the likes of Miller, Wheaton, and JJ. I imagine Heath will be retained for a reasonable figure - beloved talent of the team and his closest replacement is the Outlaw, who has shown some flashes in limited duty, but is still a long way from heir apparent. Wheaton will likely be a casualty. I just cannot see him not getting bigger money elsewhere, and with Bell/Brown/Bryant the Steelers will not be able to afford them all. Jarvis is another interesting case. Obviously a controversial pick among the fans, it will largely be determined upon the FO's opinion of his play and the figure he chooses to pursue. Fortunately the club has other options in Williams and Moats. At this point, I personally wouldn't be apt to spilling much $ for him. I like him enough, just haven't seen enough spark marking him a special player.

 

Pay the man!

 

This sounds like PWP and DHB.

 

Well then they need to sign him to a longterm deal then.

 

given the injuries it might be a last minute deal though, maybe put a clause in the contract, just my .02.

 

Exactly, let's not do like the cowgirls. Let's remember how productive,a good blocker,and dynamic in the passing game as well as best all around rb on the league.He makes an already potent offense...Unstoppable! This is a No brainer...sign the man!

 

The waiting game is part of what makes this offseason an interesting one for the FO. They are going to have to decide whether to extend Bell now, or allow him to hit the market at the end of 2016. For Bell, a lot will ride on how he bounces back and performs next year, but waiting for that to play out could pit the Steelers against a team with more cap space looking to make a splash with a game-breaking RB. As it currently stands, the Bucs, Broncos, Colts, and Titans, e.g., are teams who could be in the market for a RB and have more money to spend that the Steelers heading into 2017.

As far as contractual health clauses, you don't see that as much in the NFL; I presume because the contracts are not, as with MLB for instance, guaranteed. If a player (e.g., Woodley) begins to have recurring issues staying on the field they are simply released. That leaves the team on the hook for any remaining bonus money, but frees them of base salary obligations.

 

They will either extend Timmons or cut him with a post June 1 designation. I just don't see them carrying his 15 million dollar cap hit in 2016. He's a solid inside line backer, but not so sure he's worth 15 million(or if we can afford him). As for Miller I would be shocked if he's offered another contract after the 2016 season. I would love to retain Wheaton, but wouldn't be surprised if he was allowed to test free agency. He's proving himself to be a valuable asset and consequently pricing himself out of Pittsburgh. It's a situation similar to that of Sanders. Unfortunately we just can't keep them all. Hopefully we will see a big step up from Coates in year two lessening the pain a bit.

I'm sure they will attempt to extend Decastro and Villanueva. As for Beachum I'm betting he gets a 1 year prove it offer from the Steelers for 2016 and is allowed to test FA in 2017. I don't see him being moved inside to guard. He might be a smart player and tries hard, but he isn't a guard. Jarvis will probably be offered an extension, but they won't break the bank for him. He just hasn't done enough or been consistent enough to warrant a big contract. I;m guessing Boswell will be resigned, but it won't be a huge cap charge making it relatively painless.

Dwill, Spaeth, and Harrison will be gone.To be honest I would be surprised if Spaeth or Harrison are back for 2016. Wallace is a backup and will be paid as a back up or put out to pasture. Chickillo has a lot of work to do before we start worrying about a 2nd contract for him. I like the guy, but wouldn't be surprised if he's done as a Steeler after the first contract is up. Vince Williams is good role player, but that's about it. Fairly solid against the run, a bit of a liability vs the pass. Don't see him as the heir apparent to Timmons on the inside by any stretch of the imagination. Landry Jones will be offered clipboard carrying money and if he refuses then some journeyman vet/gradkowski type will be brought in as a #2. Shamarko is an interesting one to me. In that he seems to have the physical traits to play, but can't seem to quit making the mental mistakes. You would think after 4 years of learning he would have figured it out, but if 2015 is any indication then his days as a Steeler are probably numbered.

/edit All of that and forgot about Bell. Bell is a very good running back, but I'm not sure we retain him if it means we lose Brown or Bryant. It's fairly obvious that with the right pieces in place we will keep rolling without him. However, having the right pieces is the challenge. I don't see him getting Lynch or AP type money so it's really up to him. If he's happy/content being a Steeler with a 5,6,7 million dollar contract then he'll remain a Steeler. However, if he wants a contract that hits us with a 12-15 million cap hit he'll be gone. For the Vikings and Seachickens their offense goes when the running game goes while the passing game is our strength.

 

Just about positive a post June 1 designation allows them to spread the dead money hit out over two years. If they went that route we would save 8million in cap space and have 3 million in dead money for the next two years. That isn't insurmountable by any stretch of the imagination, but without a replacement then an extension is more than likely their first choice. They just have to structure it in a way that it doesn't bite them in the ass if his skills start to deteriorate rapidly.

I knew we were finally getting out of salary cap hell, but didn't realize it was quite this good. According to OTC we free up over $18,000,000 in dead money after this year. Woodley, Polamalu, and Scobee account for $15,000,000 in dead money this year. As it stands our dead money hit for 2016 is only $765,000.

 

D Will will be back in 2016 he signed a 2 yr deal, they can move on from Spaeth and Harrison like you said. Bell is worth around 8 million a yr on a cap friendly deal. Jarvis should be gone in 2017, his fifth yr option is over 8 million, the Steelers should draft his replacement in 2016 and move on from the mistake.

 

There isn't a snowball's chance in hell JJ gets his option year picked up at 8mil