5 NFL teams who could find their running back of the future in 2021

After being franchise tagged by the Pittsburgh Steelers and sitting out the 2018 season, Le’Veon Bell signed a four-year, $52.5 million deal with the Jets. It wasn’t all his fault, since the offensive line was subpar, but he had the worst year of his careerin 2019  (3.2 yard per carry and three touchdowns).

After talk head coach Adam Gase didn’t want Bell, the Jets were rumored to be shopping him at last year’s trade deadline. More recently, Rich Cimini of ESPN reported the Jets could look to unload Bell at this year’s trade deadline if they aren’t in contention. If that happens, the Jets will likely be in the market for a running back next spring. If a trade does not happen, it becomes palatable for the Jets to cut Bell next year.

According to Over The Cap, the Jets can clear $9.5 million in cap space with $4 million in dead money by making Bell a pre-June 1 cut in 2021. It becomes $11.5 million cleared and $2 million in dead money with a post-June 1 cut.

There’s clearly no guarantee Gase is the Jets’ head coach in 2021. But that means there will likely be a broader reset, with a purge of veterans who can be easily unloaded and don’t have a place in a long-term plan. Bell would be one of the poster boys for that. Then the Jets can go cheaper and younger at the running back position, or at least make a better free agent investment for the long haul.