Will Le’Veon Bell be on the Jets next year?

The New York Jets paid a pretty penny to sign running back Le’Veon Bell as a free agent last spring, but will he be on Gang Green heading into next year?

After spending a year out of football, former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell joined a new AFC team in the New York Jets a season ago. While in the Steel City, Bell was one of the best running backs in football, but after one lackluster year in the Big Apple, could Bell be one-and-done with Gang Green? What are the chances he’ll even be on the Jets next season?

On this week’s episode of Stacking the Box, FanSided‘s Matt Verderame and Mark Carman, lagoon with former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz, look at the changes that have been made to the Jets as an organization since Bell was signed by New York and decide if he’ll even get a second season with the team (41:53).

Schwartz believes Bell will be back with the Jets because New York will want to surround their young quarterback Sam Darnold with as many weapons as possible. Even though Bell was signed by a previous front office, one would think head coach Adam Gase and general manager Joe Douglas will want to keep him around so they can get the most out of the team’s investment.

Verderame is in on Bell returning to the Jets as well. He cites Bell being a largely unmovable asset as the biggest reason he will return. If they cut him, it would be devastating to the cap. He’s an expensive, aging running back approaching his 30s. Who in their right mind would be willing to trade anything for the guy? Bell will be back in New York, regardless of how the Jets feel about it.

Though Bell is likely to never be the player he was in Pittsburgh, he can still have a productive stint playing for the Jets. Gase is a solid offensive-minded coach. Darnold provides promise to the quarterback position New York hasn’t had since before Mark Sanchez Butt Fumbled. It’s not out of the realm of possibility that the Jets contend for a playoff berth in 2020. They’re not that far off.

Ultimately, you can see why former Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan was let go. Nobody else was willing to pay Bell top dollar as a free agent after sitting out the entire 2018 NFL season. The Jets have to make do with an ill-advised decision that has inevitably cost them. However, it would be foolish to cut bait with him at this time for financial reasons. Bell is back with the Jets.

Here are a few other topics discussed on this week’s episode of Stacking the Box:

• Schwartz walks us through an Andy Reid play call (33:10)
• Have we heard last of Mason Rudolph-Myles Garrett feud (34:40)
• What to watch for at NFL Combine? (47:15)
• Schwartz talks stretching, yoga in his old age (50:30)

All this and more!

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