Kansas City Chiefs Reportedly Re-Signing TE Blake Bell
The Kansas City Chiefs' tight end room was already slated to return some familiar faces in 2023, as the team tendered Jody Fortson as an exclusive rights free agent earlier in March. Another veteran pass-catcher is coming back for the upcoming season as well, though.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Kansas City is re-signing tight end Blake Bell to a one-year contract:
The #Chiefs are re-signing TE Blake Bell to a 1-year contract, source said. This is his fourth season with KC. - Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) on Friday, March 24, 2023 at 10:26 a.m. CT
Bell, who will be 32 by the time the 2023 campaign begins, is entering his ninth season in the NFL. He's already spent three seasons with the Chiefs, winning a Super Bowl back in 2019-20 and then returning to Kansas City for 2021 and 2022 after a season with the Dallas Cowboys. Now, he re-enters the fold after hitting the open market at the beginning of free agency.
Playing in just three regular-season games last season due to injury, Bell was limited to two receptions for 20 yards and the first regular-season touchdown grab of his career. The season before that, he hauled in nine passes on 13 targets for 87 yards in the regular season. In the Chiefs' most recent playoff run, Bell had one catch on two targets for four yards in the Divisional Round against the Jacksonville Jaguars before being inactive for the AFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LVII.
Bell is primarily known for his ability as a blocker, and he plays a role in the Chiefs' willingness to run 12- or 13-personnel looks with multiple tight ends on the field at the same time. Now, he returns to a tight end room that already contains the likes of Travis Kelce, Noah Gray and Fortson for this upcoming season. Bell is a reliable player when healthy who has a very niche skill set, although it's one the team has found valuable over the years.
