Jets would be wise to choose Tevin Coleman over Le’Veon Bell

The New York Jets can easily make just as much noise at the running back position with free agent Tevin Coleman, as they would with Le’Veon Bell.

At one point, I personally thought Le’Veon Bell would be a great fit for the New York Jets. However, free agency has changed my mind. Looking at all the options available I think the Jets could get a better option than Bell.

While the Jets have the cap space for the two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, there are a few reasons why I’ve come to realize that this isn’t the best option despite having the money to offer him.

Bell is one of the most talented backs in the game, no question. But,  Bell’s recent events raise some red flags and should be considered before discussing a future with the Jets.

His weight has become a concern for the Jets, who can’t afford to have yet another running back fall off his game and become irrelevant after such a huge signing. One recent name pops into my mind when I look at running backs that were highly praised on their former teams, and yet the Jets got the short end of the deal; Matt Forte.

The Jets came off slightly disappointed with Forte. He was nothing short of great on the Chicago Bears, yet proved to be injury prone. He also had a less productive season when he lined up in a Jets uniform.

I understand Forte and Bell shouldn’t be in comparison, as Bell is considered among the elite and Forte was a borderline top-5 running back in his prime. However, this is a fair comparison, because the version of Bell that we get may be similar to the version of Forte the Jets received.

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Also, there is no telling if he will fit in with a group of guys who want better things for this team. One can say Bell and his teammate Antonio Brown had every reason to be upset at the Pittsburgh Steelers organization, however, his antics certainly have come off disrespectful, as proven in many recent reports.

With that said, enter Tevin Coleman. Coleman is 25-years-old and has an impressive resume while being on the Atlanta Falcons. In 2018, Tevin Coleman had a solid season with 800 yards, four touchdowns, and 167 carries in 16 games.

Coleman’s career numbers are just as nice and should be considered equally.Over a four-year span, Coleman totaled 528 rushes yards, 18 touchdowns, and a little over 2,335 rushing yards in 56 games. He also added over 1,000 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

Coleman would provide a nice addition at the running back slot. With Isaiah Crowell and Bilal Powell likely to go, adding Coleman to a team with Trenton Cannon and third-year hopeful Elijah McGuire would be great.

That being said, the Jets can save some money and play better. Coleman comes with less risk of injury, no drama, and nice production. The Jets wouldn’t be blowing cap space on a guy who is highly talented with a lot of baggage. Bringing in a guy who looks to have a solid fifth year, is just 25-years-old, and has a solid resume would be a better option for the Jets than Bell.