Houston Texans’ offer
Total years and value: five years, $75 million
Average per year: $15 million
Full guarantee at signing: $30 million
Total guarantee: $50 million
Three-year payout: $26 million after Year 1, $32 million after Year 2, $45 million after Year 3.
The Texans can make Bell the highest-paid running back and blow the money that has been guaranteed on other deals out of the water, and they will still be able to fill other holes on the team after they do so. Houston can front-load the contract and absorb a large cap hit in the first year because it has more than $78 million in cap space in 2019.
The Texans can offer Bell $26 million the first year and $45 million in the first three years of the contract, as well as $30 million guaranteed at signing. Even after they re-sign Jadeveon Clowney — either with the franchise tag or a new long-term contract — the team will have the money for this deal. Houston also has Deshaun Watson on a team-friendly rookie contract, which gives it flexibility to invest in other players before having to reward him with a huge extension.
If Bell signs with the Texans, he will join a good offense that will only get better with his contribution. By playing alongside DeAndre Hopkins, Bell would give Houston the best receiver-running back duo in football. The duo would give immense support to Watson, who was hampered by a lack of playmakers, an inconsistent running game and, most importantly, a poor offensive line. The Texans will try to improve the line through the draft and free agency, but adding a talent like Bell would help make everyone look better. Last season, they were eighth in rushing, 15th in total yards per game and 11th in points per game. A playmaker like Bell would put Houston over the top and surely help avoid another performance in the playoffs like it suffered against the Colts.
While starting back Lamar Miller has put up solid numbers in Houston, he is not as good of a playmaker as Bell, especially in the passing game. Bell would provide a boost to the Texans on the ground, but his most important contribution to the team would be the support he would give Watson. Bell, an elite pass-catcher, would add yet another dimension and level of support to coach Bill O’Brien’s offense. Houston failed in the playoffs against the Colts because of a lack of depth. With wide receiver Will Fuller V out with a torn ACL and Hopkins nursing a shoulder injury suffered in the first half, Watson didn’t have anyone to turn to. Adding an elite runner who could provide a massive boost in the passing game could be just what this team needs.
The Texans faltered in the playoffs but showed they have talent on their roster by winning 11 of their last 13 regular-season games. They have never been to an AFCChampionship Game, but the addition of Bell could be the difference-maker. If Bell wants to win a Super Bowl, Houston is his best landing spot. — Sarah Barshop
THE FINAL DECISION
Let me count the reasons why I’m advising my client to accept the Texans’ offer from the three made here today.
The contract: The $15 million annual average and $30 million fully guaranteed both raise the bar at the running back position. None of the other offers here exceeds those figures or reaches the $50 million in total guarantees. For the sake of comparison, Gurley got $21.95 million fully guaranteed. The Texans are offering the best combination of numbers even though their deal is the only one exceeding four years (either way, this is probably my client’s only monster deal).
Green Bay’s offer was outstanding, and better in some ways. The two-year payout of $38 million was appealing because, let’s face it, any team signing a free agent to a deal of this magnitude could move on after a couple of seasons, but probably not after one. How many running backs could turn down $19 million a year for two years? The Packers’ offer also mirrors what some contract negotiators around the league have predicted my client would take. It’s a good offer. The Jets were a tick lower in average per year. Hitting the $15 million-a-year mark was appealing.
State income tax: Wisconsin and New Jersey have state income taxes for individuals. Texas does not. That means my client will keep more of his money playing for the Texans than he would playing for the Packers or Jets. The AFC South schedule takes the Texans to other states without income taxes (Florida, Tennessee), shielding additional income from Uncle Sam. It’s a potential tiebreaker.
The team: If winning was the most important consideration, my client would have stayed with Pittsburgh. That doesn’t mean my client is only about the contract. The opportunity for on-field team success becomes a consideration once the financial parameters are satisfactory. All three teams making offers carry some appeal that way, but Houston offers a roster loaded with superstars in their prime years. Who wouldn’t want to play with Watson, Hopkins and J.J. Watt?
The city: There is only one New York market, but Houston is the fourth-largest city in the country and on track to overtake Chicago for the third spot. No complaints there.
Final thoughts: Critics will say my client should have taken the Steelers’ previous offers, that he’ll never recoup lost earnings. They might be right, but my client wanted choices. He wanted to test the market. He won that right and secured the deal and situation he found most appealing. He did it on his terms. That was important to him.
The conflict with the Steelers was unfortunate. What no one predicted, really, was that the Rams would re-sign Gurley so early and for so much money. That raised the bar past where the Steelers were comfortable going, and helped us get to where we are today.
This entire process has been a grind. It’s a relief to finally have a resolution. — Mike Sando, playing the part of Bell’s agent