WEDNESDAY, 12:10pm: Bell has officially re-signed with the Lions, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (via Twitter).
TUESDAY, 11:43am: The Lions and running back Joique Bell have agreed to a two-year, $7MM extension, a source tells Adam Caplan of ESPN (on Twitter). The restricted free agent gets $4.3MM guaranteed in the pact. As Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports (on Twitter) notes, the deal is a two-year extension tacked on to the one-year restricted free agent tender.
Bell, 27, said back in January that he hoped to bypass the restricted free agency process and negotiate a long-term contract that would keep him in Detroit. The undrafted running back was one of the team’s most dynamic offensive weapons in 2013, racking up nearly 1,200 combined rushing and receiving yards to go along with eight touchdowns. While Bell was only a part-time player, playing behind starter Reggie Bush, he ranked as the NFL’s ninth-best running back, according to Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics (subscription required).
Last season, Bell proved that he is one of the league’s best No. 2 running backs and with this deal, the Lions will continue to have him in place for the next three years in that role.