Le’Veon Bell: 5 best fits in NFL free agency
By John Buhler
Indianapolis Colts
AFC, South
There are a few middle of the pack teams in the NFL that could pop in 2017. One team in the AFC that fits that mold is the Indianapolis Colts. Now that owner Jim Irsay has a strong general manager in place in Chris Ballard, the Colts can finally surround quarterback Andrew Luck with the talent he needs to contend for Super Bowls.
The Ryan Grigson era in Indianapolis certainly had its misgivings. Indianapolis couldn’t protect Luck up front most weeks. He didn’t have the the defense to bail him out in tough on-field battles. However, the most egregious part of the Grigson era of the Colts was their atrocious running game.
Frank Gore is a future Pro Football Hall of Famer, but Ballard needs to get Luck a bell-cow back in his prime not named Trent Richardson. Bell fits that mold and would thrive playing on the turf in Indianapolis. One could argue that playing in the AFC South would extend Bell’s shelf life as a Pro Bowl caliber tailback.
Indianapolis has a great deal of cap space. The Colts can use a projected $55,880,819 to get Luck the help he needs, including signing Bell to a long-term deal. Together, Luck and Bell can bring Indianapolis another Lombardi Trophy before the end of the decade.
The only holdups for Bell to Indianapolis besides him getting slapped with the franchise tag by Pittsburgh are: 1.) Does Bell want leave an outstanding football culture in Pittsburgh for an odd one in Indianapolis? 2.) How does Bell feel about leaving a top-five offensive line in Pittsburgh behind for a shamefully porous one with the Colts?