ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Are the Raiders in play for Le'Veon Bell?
The Raiders were under the impression Tuesday that the former Steelers running back would like to join Pittsburgh teammate Antonio Brown and play in silver in black. He's being lobbied by some Raiders players, including pending free agent tackle Trent Brown on Twitter.
Financial hurdles remain, however, and Bell is also reportedly being courted by the New York Jets.
Bell sat out last season rather than play for a franchise tag price of more than $14 million, so it's not as if he wants to be a Raider so bad he's going to be giving a discount.
The Raiders have already committed more than $30 million guaranteed to Antonio Brown, and Trent Brown's deal reportedly checked in with more than $36 million in guarantees.
According to overthecap.com, which charts team spending, the Raiders still had $42 million under the salary cap while figuring in the deals for Antonio Brown and Trent Brown and deducting Kelechi Osemele, who was traded to the New York Jets. The deal, which will reportedly bring aboard Rams safety LaMarcus Joyner is not yet listed.
The Raiders could clear another $10 million with the releases of tackle Donald Penn and wide receiver Seth Roberts.
So signing Bell is do-able under the salary cap.
Whether owner Mark Davis has enough actual cash on hand to fund those deals is another matter, although the Raiders in the past have been able to make big strikes in free agency with players such as Osemele and Rodney Hudson. According to the CBA, the total cash of a signing bonus must be placed in escrow at the start of the contract.
Last season the Raiders could not agree to a contract extension with defensive end Khalil Mack, who wanted more than they were willing or able to pay. He was traded to the Chicago Bears.
Both of the Raiders leading rushers from a year ago, Doug Martin and Marshawn Lynch, are unrestricted free agents. They combined for 1,099 yards. Jalen Richard, whose role is primarily that of a receiver, was tendered at a second-round level and will return.
Other backs include De'Andre Washington and Chris Warren, the latter a power back who led the Raiders in rushing last preseason.
Bell has 5,336 yards rushing, an average yards per carry and 35 touchdowns from 2013 to 2017 in Pittsburgh. He also has 312 receptions for 2,660 yards and seven scores.
