What to Expect From Le’Veon Bell On the Kansas City Chiefs

Tonight, it was announced that former New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell will be signing with the Kansas City Chiefs. Bell and the Chiefs agreed in principle to a one-year deal. The deal gives Kansas City another playmaker to go alongside their half-billion dollar quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

While Twitter was sleeping: Former Jets’ RB Le’Veon Bell is signing a one-year deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, a league source tells ESPN. Bell wanted to win a Super Bowl and believes Kansas City is the place to go to try to do it.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 15, 2020

Bell was once one of the most dynamic backs in the NFL,  but after a contract dispute and an ugly tenure with the New York Jets, the running back has become an afterthought to some extent. But now after signing with the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs, Bell has everyone’s attention.

At the same time, it is hard to put an expectation on what Bell will be able to do in a KC uniform. At 28-years-old, he is three years removed from his last 1,000 yard season. That isn’t to say Bell is washed up by any means, but three years in the NFL is a long time.

So when he hasn’t able to prove over the last two years that he is the same player he was back in Pittsburgh, it is hard to gauge how he will perform.

Worth mentioning that this is the trajectory of Le’Veon Bell’s yards per carry by year …

2016: 4.9
2017: 4.0
2018: n/a
2019: 3.2
2020: 2.3

Suffice it to say, he’s got a lot to prove. Good news is, he’s going to a great place to try and do that.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 16, 2020

In the same breath, it has to be mentioned that Bell was stuck with the Jets and Adam Gase for the past two seasons.

Still, Bell is only 28-years-old. I know the life of a NFL running back is getting shorter and shorter, but there have been plenty of seasons in which a 28-year-old running back has been able to perform at high level. You can even look back just a couple years ago, when then Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy (28 at the time) was able to put together a season of 14 touchdowns and over 1,500 scrimmage yards.

So what do I expect with Bell? Well, in the dynamic offense of Kansas City, Bell should return to form. There is no doubt in my mind that he can still make people miss.

Never forget Malik Jackson’s reaction to getting crossed up by Le’Veon 😂 @LeVeonBell

(via @Jaguars) pic.twitter.com/KhSe6rt4Gb

— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 15, 2020

And although the Chiefs have rookie first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire commanding the backfield, I’d bet the split between the two will be something around 55/45 (in favor of the rookie).

I would say that is an estimate on my part, but Edwards-Helaire has been on the field for 65% of the snaps this season. That is with his backup being Darrel Williams, and not Le’Veon Bell.

Clyde Edwards-Helaire has taken 65% of the snaps so far this season. There are snaps for Bell already in KC’s offense.

— Seth Keysor (@RealMNchiefsfan) October 16, 2020

With all that being said, Bell will help most certainly help an already nuclear offense. Kansas City was unfair to begin with, but Bell will make them even better.

It will be exciting to see what the recently released Jet does in KC. But I am expecting a rebound, where Bell shows us why he was once considered the best back in all of football.

– Jarrod Ribaudo (@Jribs53)

Featured image courtesy of Twitter / @AdamSchefter