NFL free agency 2019: 5 best teams for Le’Veon Bell

Once the season ends, all anybody will talk about is NFL free agency. For 28 teams, they are already looking forward to March 11 at 4 p.m. ET, when clubs can start speaking with free agents. While teams can’t sign guys until March 13, all the wheeling and dealing is mostly done well before that point or the big-name players.

This year, one of the crown jewels will be Le’Veon Bell. Bell turns 27 years old in February, but the two-time All-Pro running back will have a bevy of suitors after sitting out a year without a long-term deal from the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 2016 and ’17, Bell notched more than 2,500 rushing yards and 1,200 receiving yards to go with 20 total touchdowns.

Here are the five favorites to land Bell in the NFL free agency….

5. Detroit Lions

This is the dark horse. The Lions aren’t always incredibly active in NFL free agency, but Bell went to school in Lansing and Detroit could really use another playmaker. Matthew Stafford has never had a true running game to help him, and with Bell’s ability to catch the ball, it could be a match made in heaven.

Want $250 to bet on the NFL?

4. Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have to be on this list because they have the most money to spend with $122 million, and they could use another running back to play leading man next to Marlon Mack. Indianapolis bowed out in the Divisional round to the Chiefs due in large part to their offenses going dormant. The Colts wouldn’t have that problem with a healthy Bell in the backfield.

3. San Francisco 49ers

This is a bit of an odd situation. The 49ers have Jerick McKinnon coming back from a torn ACL and Matt Breida showed his skills while filling in. However, San Francisco has nobody the caliber of Bell standing behind Jimmy Garoppolo, and Kyle Shanahan’s scheme is built perfectly for someone of his ilk.

Read: Cavs Cleared of Misconduct over Patrick McCaw

2. New York Jets

New York has to be thinking about ways to lure Bell to the Big Apple. For starters, the only team with more cap space than the Jets are the Colts. Second, New York would certainly be making him the centerpiece of the offense, all while having Sam Darnold at the helm. That could be enough to sell Bell on coming to New York.

1. Oakland Raiders

The Raiders have more than $76 million in cap space and a gaping hole at running back. Jon Gruden needs to bring in some talent come free agency, and Bell would be a huge upgrade. With the way Derek Carr prefers to throw short, the former Michigan State star would be the perfect addition to a team desperate for talent.