Pittsburgh Steelers hoping Bills trade LeSean McCoy
Le’Veon Bell isn’t going anywhere without LeSean McCoy landing in a new home, first. Meaning the Pittsburgh Steelers are on a waiting list for tradable running backs.
The Buffalo Bills get first dibs at the running back market. LeSean McCoy is on the trading block, and the Bills are asking for a second and third-round pick in return for the Pro Bowler. But realistically, they’ll get a third-round pick and be happy they won’t lose him for nothing.
A motto the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely going to adapt before the end of the trade deadline. James Conner is this team’s feature back until Week 8, and at that point, there’s no sense in adding another running back.
Le’Veon Bell is a difference maker, yes, but at the end of the season, he’ll find himself a new home one way or another. The Steelers have invested time and money into the running back’s career. At this point, they’d be foolish not to receive some sort of compensation for him.
Someone will bite when they realize the price tag is going down. A second-round pick and a “good” player is a lot to ask. Not for Bell, but for a player who will need to be resigned at the end of the year.
Right now, no one cares about Bell’s trade worth, though. With McCoy on the block, teams will quickly accept an older back for less compensation than trading for Bell and hoping he’s in game shape when he returns.
Will Bell get traded? If the Steelers want to trade him. They’re in charge of the negotiations, not us. Meaning if they want to get rid of Bell before they lose him for nothing, that’s their choice.
If the Eagles trade for McCoy, Bell returns as the only quality back on the market. Without him being on the field, or without a long-term deal, he’s much less valuable than McCoy. Teams, including the Steelers, know that.
Even if McCoy only has 170 yards and no touchdowns thus far, he’s still valuable. Buffalo has shown zero light at the end of the tunnel. It’s hard to run the ball effectively when you play from behind the whole game. A situation McCoy doesn’t want to be in, and the Bills don’t need to have him in.
Their season is over. Even if teams in the NFL don’t “tank,” they’re intelligent enough to know when they can remove a piece of the puzzle for a brighter future.
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The NFL wants McCoy, first. But once he’s gone, Bell is first in the line for teams in need. It’s just a waiting game to see who comes calling.