Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell is a one-of-a-kind talent, a dynamic player who can beat opposing defenses in multiple ways. Aside from this year, in which a suspension and a knee injury limited him to just six games, he has been a consistent provider of offense since being taken in the second round of the 2013 draft. Had the Steelers had a healthy Bell (and Antonio Brown), maybe they would have advanced farther in the playoffs.
So as he enters the final year of his rookie contract, expect Pittsburgh to start kicking the tires on an extension for their star running back.
"There is no running back in football with a more complete skill set than Bell, in my opinion," ESPN NFL insider Field Yates wrote. "He is a force not only as a runner but also in the passing game. The best of Bell was on display during his 2014 breakout season, as he racked up 1,361 yards on 290 carries and added 83 catches for 854 yards. He's an outlet for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger when plays break down or on designed throws. Bell can play on all three downs and doesn't turn 24 until February. His yards-per-carry average has increased in each NFL season (4.9 in 2015), and while the focus surrounding Bell right now is his recovery from a season-ending knee injury, a new deal would be a boon for both sides."
Despite only appearing in six games, Bell still managed to rack up 556 rushing yards and three touchdowns while catching 24 passes for 136 yards. In 35 career games, he has rushed for 2,777 yards and 19 touchdowns on a 4.3 YPC. He's also hauled in 152 passes for 1,389 yards and three scores. That type of dual production is hard to come by. Expect the Steelers to reward him with a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.
