Chiefs free agent profile: Blake Bell is a good bet to return
By Matt Conner
Why bring him back?
Bell is the definition of a journeyman tight end, having found steady work on a string of one-year deals with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, and Kansas City Chiefs on two separate stints in the last four years—and that’s before being drafted in the fourth round by the San Francisco 49ers in 2015 and playing in Minnesota for the Vikings for two years as well.
While the value play here might seem low, Bell has provided a reliable blocking presence for the Chiefs at the position for two separate seasons now and it’s very telling they brought him back after a season away. He’s graded well as a pass blocker for the last four seasons, per PFF, and he knows the system.
Offensively, Bell is a bit part but he doesn’t complain about it. Last year, he caught 9 of 13 targets for 87 yards and that’s a pretty standard season on the stat sheet for Bell. He is also known as the Belldozer in Chiefs Kingdom and rushed 4 times in 2021 for 4 first downs for the Chiefs on those short yardage situations.
In addition, it needs to be said that any deal to bring Bell back would probably mirror his one-year deal worth $1.1 million for this season.
Why let him leave?
The room is too crowded and Bell has no real differentiator. While Bell is the best blocker of the unit, the truth is that the Chiefs were forced to carry four tight ends as it was at the beginning of the 2021 season. Noah Gray is the obvious backup and security blanket for Travis Kelce and should grow into a greater weapon. Meanwhile, Jody Fortson is the red zone target who could provide the sort of big blocker and is coming back from injury.
The truth is that Bell’s skill set isn’t so special that the Chiefs couldn’t find someone else to do it and the cupboards already look fairly full at the position. Do the Chiefs really plan on carrying four tight ends again? Remember that carrying four at one position means carrying fewer at another spot—and it’s likely a much more important spot at that.