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The Kansas City Chiefs had an interesting workout recently. Per Aaron Wilson, the Chiefs worked out Byron Bell, who was the Carolina Panthers starting left tackle last season.
Former Panthers offensive tackle Byron Bell tried out for the Kansas City Chiefs, according to a source
— Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) April 10, 2015
Bell was a 2011 undrafted free agent. Due to injuries and retirements along the Panthers offensive line over the years, he has made 56 starts in the last four seasons. That's quite a few for a player who is now on the open market. He played right tackle in his first three seasons but started 15 games at left tackle last season after Jordan Gross retired. It's not often you get a 26-year old tackle with 56 starts available in April.
I have not watched Bell play but a few things concern me. One, his performance last season clearly left something to be desired as the Panthers are not bringing him back even as a backup. Two, his Pro Football Focus grades were awful last season.
Byron Bell’s season rating of minus-33.4 by @PFF ranks 83rd among 84 offensive tackles evaluated.
— Panthers 24/7 (@Panthers24_7) January 12, 2015
Three, this April Fools joke from our Panthers blog. Darin Gantt from PFT has a nice post that puts some context on Bell's play in Carolina.
The Chiefs currently project Eric Fisher at left tackle and Donald Stephenson competing with someone (Jeff Allen? Derek Sherrod?) at right tackle. The Chiefs have a lot of bodies on the line but outside of left tackle and left guard it doesn't appear anything is settled. I will say, despite those poor PFF grades, Bell is a veteran with plenty of snaps under his belt so he could add to the camp competition if the Chiefs choose to sign him. The Chiefs could also be working him out now in the event an injury pops up later.
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