The Baltimore Ravens were among the teams in the running for former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell. With a commitment to a run-heavy scheme under quarterback Lamar Jackson, Bell would have been a big signing for the Ravens to bolster their rushing attack.
But at a little after midnight — around the time his new album released — Bell finally appears set to make a decision. Bell is set to sign with the New York Jets, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter and confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The deal is for four years and $52.5 million; it cannot be official until after the new league year begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET.
Many Ravens fans were hoping to see Baltimore sign Bell this offseason. After a mass exodus of defensive players early in the NFL’s legal tampering period, fans were hungry to see a big-name signing from the Ravens. However, it seems Baltimore’s attention will have to instead turn to former New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram, whom the team has also shown interest in.
It could be a blessing in disguise for the Ravens, who likely won’t come near the $13.1 million-per-year price tag Bell gets with New York. However, after seeing how important Bell was for Pittsburgh’s offense, both on the ground and through the air, it could be a missed opportunity for Baltimore to dramatically improve an offense that is without any real weapons.
The silver lining is Bell is out of the division, lightening the load for a Ravens defense that has to contend with the stacked Cleveland Browns offense following their trade with the New York Giants for wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. earlier on Tuesday. With the Jets, Bell will join linebacker C.J. Mosley, who agreed to leave Baltimore at the start of the tampering period.
