Free Agent Focus: Jacob Bell
Position: G
Height: 6-4
Weight: 295
College: Miami of Ohio
Years Pro / Age: 4 / 26
Overview: Jacob Bell was drafted in the fifth round of the 2004 draft and for the past 2 years has started since Zach Piller went on IR in October. Bell is now a Unrestricted Free Agent who might see a decent payday via free agency for teams who are looking for a starting Left Guard. Tennessee has the space to resign him should they get into a bidding war.
Scouting Report: Bell has progressed well since joining the NFL and is flexible enough to play tackle, but is best suited as a guard. Bell could use a little more time in the weight room, to gain more strength but Bell is smart player who has a high motor. Agile, can run well and is has the ability to play well in open space. While Bell has gotten stronger, won’t be a mauler and can’t consistently push DTs back at the point of attack.
Recommendation: If the Jets are looking to pair a mauler on the left side of the line, Bell might not be the right match. But Kendall wasn’t a mauler either and it worked well enough. Bell is clearly a player on the rise and has had good success while he played over the course of the past two seasons.
6 Responses to Free Agent Focus: Jacob Bell
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Matt says:
Best way to build a franchise…draft smart. Signing FA’s is great, but drafting great is more important.
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Blair Thomas says:
Matt I agree that the draft is the most important way. I just don’t want to see the Jets have to use its first several picks to shore up a line that has been destroyed by free agency over the years. If the Jets can add two OL through free agency (as opposed to defense, seeing as Suggs and Haynesworth are both going to be franchised) and then draft a DE and an OLB with 2 of their first 3 picks, the team would fight for a wildcard next year.
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Michael says:
As great as it would be having a Redhawk play for the Jets, I doubt he gets away from the Titans. They have plenty of money and he seems like the kind of player teams want to keep. I am surprised Andrews got franchised. He’s certainly a nice player, but not one of the top ten guards in the league.
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TEN has a bunch of FA’s – Haynesworth, Odom, LaBoy among them – so Bell might slip through the cracks.
I really like this guy from what I’ve read here and elsewhere. He’s not a mauler, but our LG doesn’t have to be – he just has to be tougher and much better than Turnstile Clarke. Bell is athletic, can play either guard position or even tackle in a pinch, works hard, and is still only 26. He may be a “7″ right now, with upside to become better. And he should be available for less than many of our other “need” positions will go for in the FA market.
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Stacy Andrews franchised…we’re losing solid free agents by the day.