Wide receiver David Bell has not panned out for the Cleveland Browns, and the team could cut him as he enters his third year in the league. As the first offensive player selected in the Deshaun Watson Era, Cleveland’s front office believed that Bell’s skillset complemented Watson’s style of play and that these two could take the league by storm. Instead, both Watson and Bell have failed to justify the organization’s confidence. Since entering the league, Bell has recorded just 38 receptions for 381 yards and three touchdowns on 58 targets.
The Browns don’t have the deepest wide receiver room in the league, but Dakota Randall of Pro Football Network believes that Cleveland will still cut David Bell. Perhaps the Purdue product won’t turn it around with the team that drafted him, but he should earn another shot in the league, even if it’s just on a practice squad. While any team could make a move for the veteran, the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs make the most sense.
Chiefs, Chargers Could Pursue David Bell If Browns Cut Him
The Los Angeles Chargers need anybody with a working set of hands. After parting ways with Keenan Allen and Mike Williams in the offseason, first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh bet on Quentin Johnston to improve on his dismal rookie season. So far, that appears to have been an unwise wager, as the former first-round pick is buried on the depth chart behind Ladd McConkey, Joshua Palmer, and DJ Chark. McConkey has some potential, but the other two players are nothing more than unremarkable journeymen.
David Bell is also an unremarkable journeyman, but the cut candidate might be able to climb this depth chart. Justin Herbert is a phenomenal quarterback, but nobody can do it alone. Receiver is one of the most important positions in the game, and the Chargers poor group of pass-catchers could be enough to sink the season before it starts. Bell won’t need to be a superstar to make a difference on this roster, he just needs to be better than DJ Chark. Maybe he’s not up for that task, but it can’t hurt to bring him in and see what the former third-round pick can bring to the table.
Chiefs Searching For Depth
The Chiefs interest in David Bell is directly related to the impending Rashee Rice suspension. Head coach Andy Reid says he hasn’t heard anything from the league regarding potential discipline, but it’s only a matter of time before the veteran misses at least a portion of the season. If Rice only has to miss a small handful of games, the team will probably try to get by without him. However, if the suspension is serious, then Kansas City could sign David Bell if the Browns cut him.
While the team put it all together in the postseason, Kansas City struggled to move the ball during parts of the regular season. This was largely due to their woeful wide receiver depth, as Kadarius Toney and Skyy Moore actively sabotaged the offense whenever they were targeted. Free agent signee Marquise Brown and first-round pick Xavier Worthy ensure this team will have reliable starters without Rice, but what will the team do in three-receiver sets? David Bell might not be a starting-caliber receiver, but the cut candidate is likely a safer option than Moore and Toney.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – USA Today Sports
