The Pittsburgh Steelers are less than a week away from the deadline to reach a long-term deal with Le’Veon Bell. How do James Conner and Jaylen Samuels factor into negotiations?
We are witnesses to perhaps the greatest game of chicken to take place at a negotiation table. Which camp will budge? Two sides, two different figures being sought, one deadline day. July 16th at 4:00 PM eastern time marks the precise time the Pittsburgh Steelers and Le’Veon Bell have to agree to a long-term contract extension. If Bell decides to repeat his 2017 off-season and stay firm in negotiations, he will be set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
Whether you like Le’Veon as a person or not, there are no arguments: The man deserves to be paid. Bell has taken the league by storm since his entrance in 2013, and has rightfully claimed his throne as the league’s best back. Bell’s trademark patience combined with his strength/agility make him a diamond in a rough of factory-made running backs who only run north and south.
The Steelers know this, of course. The question for GM Kevin Colbert is not “Does he deserve to be signed?” but rather “At what price do we walk away?”. In the NFL, running backs are not nearly as valued in comparison to other skill positions such as quarterbacks and wide receivers. The shelf life of ball-carriers in the league typically don’t last extremely long, most notably past the age of 30 with the occasional exception here and there. That’s not-so-great news for Le’Veon, who would be 27 years of age seeking a long-term deal next year.
Enter the talents of James Conner and Jaylen Samuels.
Conner, playing in Pittsburgh’s own backyard at Heinz Field for his collegiate career, was taken in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. After defeating cancer during his time at Pitt, Conner was one of the draft’s best feel-good stories before landing with the Steelers. Samuels, taken in the 5th round of the 2018 NFL Draft, was possibly one of the better value picks given what he can do. Playing all over the field rather than purely out of the backfield at NC State, Samuels’ size, versatility and ability to catch has many people in Pittsburgh feeling déjà vu to a similar back currently on the roster.
Le'Veon Bell: Hope vs. Reality in contract talks
So how do Conner and Samuels play into the Steelers future plans with Bell?
It is noteworthy to point out Conner/Samuels are the only backs drafted since Bell was selected as a second round pick in 2013 (Technically Dri Archer was labeled as a RB but we’re not counting that for obvious reasons). The two most recent additions have come in back to back off-seasons, both years where Bell was vying for a new, juicy, lucrative deal. Coincidence?
According to multiple reports, last year Bell rejected a 5 year deal that would have averaged $12 million annually, with $30 million coming in the first two years. Flash forward to 2018, where Bell has been rumored to want as much as $17 million per year. Should the two camps meet about halfway at a hefty $14.5 million, the exact amount Bell would be making on the franchise tag this season, Bell would be clearing a nearly $8.5 million ahead of the next-highest paid back based on average salaries.
Many people within the organization are not in favor of paying a king’s ransom for a position that historically is not significant for winning championships. Marshawn Lynch is the only notable running back to have won a Super Bowl since Pittsburgh’s own Jerome Bettis during the 2005-2006 season. Yet even Bettis wasn’t considered the starter of that team, as a young Willie Parker took over the spot during the regular season and never looked back.
It’s not to say Bell cannot help the Steelers win a championship. It’s actually quite the opposite. When Bell is healthy, Pittsburgh is at their most lethal state. What Bell does is almost irreplaceable, with the keyword being: Almost. Pittsburgh still is able to function within their offense thanks to the talents of Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown. Should an even half-capable back run behind what is considered to be one of the best offensive lines in the league, the success would likely be identical to match Bell’s.
That’s the thought process of drafting two running backs in back to back seasons. Conner is built for more of north/south yard-churner, while Samuels’ skill set almost mirrors Bell’s, to much lesser extents of course. The duo, in theory, would be capable of replicating Bell’s on-field impact, and that’s currently where Colbert and the rest of the front office seem to be flaunting to Bell’s camp. The 2018 price tag for a Conner/Samuels duo is just under $1.3 million, a fraction of the cost it would take to satisfy Bell.
Next: Optimism arises in light of Bell's contract situation
How do these two impact Le’Veon’s contract talks? Likely more than you realize. Majority of the league view the running back position as an essential yet interchangeable part of the team. There will always be a player ready to take over the reigns, especially if the price tag is more than the liking of a team trying to decide what to do with a player. Conner/Samuels will not be the deciding factor in these negotiations, for either side. However, the Steelers have indeed shown their hand.
Pittsburgh is very prepared to roll with the price tag and youth.