By Nick Wojton / Billswire.usatoday.com
The Buffalo Bills have slowly but surely started to add to their skill positions on offense as the second day of the NFL’s tampering period is underway on Tuesday.
So far running back Frank Gore and tight end Tyler Kroft have joined the Bills, per reports. With a need at wide receiver on the table still, and an already failed attempt to land a former Pittsburgh Steelers player, the Bills were mentioned with a former black & gold… running back?
Per a report, Le’Veon Bell might be on the Bills’ radar.
According to ESPN’s Josina Anderson via CBS Sports, the Bills were one of six teams mentioned as interested in Bell, along with the Jets, Colts, Ravens, Packers, and Texans.
The idea of Bell to the Bills seems a bit far-fetched, even if the team didn’t sign the 35-year-old Gore on Monday. Bell is likely the top-overall playmaker on the open market after sitting out the 2018 season, however, he was still extremely talented when he did suit up. But Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane have consistently committed themselves to using running back LeSean McCoy, who has one year left on his current contract, as their go-to rusher.
If the Bills did land Bell, they’d likely have to find a way to deal McCoy.
But playing devil’s advocate, the same front office duo were also pretty supportive of Tyrod Taylor, too. Circumstances can change.
Bell, 27, has averaged 86.1 yards per game in the 62 total games he’s played in his career. In the three seasons he played double-digit games, he’s rushed for at least 1,000 yards. Included in that is 2016, where he only played 12 games and had 1,268 rushing yards, a near 105 yards-per-game average.
And don’t forget, he’s a heck of a receiver, too. Bell has three seasons of at least 75 catches in his career, the same three referenced double-digit years.