Le’Veon Bell won’t fix the run game for the Kansas City Chiefs

Le’Veon Bell has been released by the Jets, but the Kansas City Chiefs shouldn’t add him.

Well, to the surprise of no one, the Le’Veon Bell era didn’t work in New York, as the Jets released him after not being able to find a trade partner for the former top notch running back. Obviously Kansas City Chiefs fans are going to discuss at great length how the team should or shouldn’t bring him in because well, that’s just what we do as sports fans.

The Chiefs drafted Clyde Edwards-Helaire with the 32nd overall pick earlier this year and did so to help shore up the run. So far, Edwards-Helaire has been fine, but not fantastic, but it’s worth noting he’s just five games into his career and the Chiefs offensive line has been shaky at best.

It hasn’t been Edwards-Helaire’s fault for why the run game can’t get going and Bell isn’t going to fix that, especially not in the back half of his career (yes, even at 28 years old – running back is a short-lived career for the most part). The offensive line needs to get better before any type of run game can really succeed for Kansas City.

While I get the appeal of adding Bell, the Chiefs have so many other issues they should try to fix through free agency and running back isn’t one of them. Edwards-Helaire has shown glimpses of what he can do, but the Chiefs haven’t been running the ball as much as they should be with their new weapon at running back.

Bell is also a drama king and that’s why he’s already on his way out of New York after just a season and a half. He sat out all of 2018 because the Steelers wouldn’t give him a long-term contract and he’s been running his mouth during his time with the Jets (though to be fair, Adam Gase isn’t a good coach, so hard to argue much with Bell there).

Bell also just isn’t the same player he used to be. He rushed for just 789 yards and three touchdowns through 15 games last year and only 74 yards through two games in 2020. The Chiefs have problems running the ball right now, but Le’Veon Bell isn’t going to magically fix those problems. Clyde Edwards-Helaire is the best option moving forward, but as mentioned early, the o-line has to get better in order to make that happen.

Of course if the Kansas City Chiefs go out and get Bell, I certainly won’t complain, but right now, it’s not the best move for this team moving forward.