NFL trade rumors: Steelers' Le'Veon Bell to Eagles?

PHILADELPHIA -- Howie Roseman is no stranger to making a splashy mid-season trade.

The Eagles executive vice president of football operations traded for running back Jay Ajayi in the middle of last season, even as the team was rolling to the tune of a 7-1 record.

It's 2018, and perhaps the Eagles could be interested in another talented running back. This one is a doozy -- Steelers disgruntled star Le'Veon Bell.

Bell has refused to sign his franchise tender and hasn't reported to the team since the start of the season. Recently, the Steelers have apparently become more willing to move him. The Jets were bandied about as a candidate.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora thinks it's worth keeping an eye on Roseman and the Eagles.

This was his explanation on an episode of the "Pick Six Podcast" ...

To me the Packers make a ton of sense. The Bucs make a lot of sense. The Dolphins -- they've kind of gone anti-splashy moves lately, but that would the Tannenabum/Steve Ross model. I've got a sleeper team for you: the defending world champion, fly Eagle fly Philadelphia Eagles.

"[This would be] the ultimate Howie Roseman move. Trade Nick Foles, get something back for him and then blammo, create cap space and money. Go to your owner and say 'I'm going to turn Nick Foles into Le'Veon Bell, all you gotta do is pay him.' Jay Ajayi is up at the end of the year anyway. They have no commitment to him. Sproles is banged up again. Do they really want to be going into games with Corey Clement and whatever else? That's my sleeper team.

"With Carson, there's going to be a lot of three-step drops. Who better to go out there and save the day? They're obviously trying to win right now. They've already made a financial commitment so that's not an owner who is going to let $8 million scuttle the chance to get an All-Pro, every down running back.

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Of course, it would take some cap maneuvering -- along with a sizable trade package -- to make that work. The Eagles currently only have $5.3 million in 2018 cap space, per Spotrac, and Bell's franchise tender alone is valued at $14.5 million. If Bell was traded, he conceivably would negotiate a contract extension, though that might not necessarily save the team much money considering his demands.

Plus, the Eagles typically don't prioritize the running back position in terms of draft capital or salary, at least not since the DeMarco Murray debacle. Plus, the Eagles already have Ajayi, Darren Sproles, Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams under contract for this season. Though, Ajayi will be a free agent in 2019, and Sproles is expected to retire.

Nevertheless, as long as Bell remains disgruntled with the Steelers, it's something to keep an eye on.

Zack Rosenblatt may be reached at zrosenblatt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZackBlatt. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

Listen to "Postgame discussion: Eagles 20, Colts 16 (Ep. 179)" on Spreaker.

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