If the Steelers don’t come to terms with Le’Veon Bell on a new long-term contract before July 17 he will play for $12.1 million next season on the franchise tender the Steelers extended earlier this year. If they wanted to place the franchise tender on him again following next season they would have to pay him $14.5 million on another one-year deal because the second time a player is tagged he receives 120 percent of his previous year’s salary.
The Steelers will be happy to pay Bell his $12.1 this year, but there are no guarantees Bell will remain with the Steelers after that.