Markquese Bell: LBer or Safety

[fivetwos]

Zimmer and Eberflus ruined a lot of guys. Liufai, Juanyeh, Bland, Carson….maybe it’s the player…but tough to tell.

Think I’m gonna steal a page out of the Coogy book and anoint this as the post of the day.

 

[DuncanIso]

Fans overlooking this player.

Runs a 4.41 40

Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Black College Football Pro Player of the Year Award (2024) First-team All-MEAC (2019) First-team All-SWAC (2021) FCS first-team All-American (2021)
Total tackles 142 Pass deflections 7 Interceptions 1 Forced fumbles 3

 

[big dog cowboy]

Classic tweener.

Yep. Position flex may save him.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I don't think he's getting looked at LB

We will find out next week!

 

[John813]

IMO he still has a say on making the roster, but he will need to make the most of it in TC and PS, whereever Parker decides to place him at

Contract wise, IMO the front office was expecting him last year to be more of a role player for 27, but that was before the flop of Matt E and then changing of the guards.
While his contract is small, relatively speaking, his salary this year was fully guaranteed. Would bet they would look to trade him for next to nothing over cutting him

 

[G2]

Didn't they extend him for 3 years?

 

[gimmesix]

This is a different scheme. I don't think he's getting looked at LB and they likely only keep five inside LBs. Seconday wise they will keep either 6 cbs and 4 safeties or 5 and 5. I lean to CBs.

WLB	53	Winters, Dee T/SF	55	Barham, Jaishawn 26/3	42	Robinson, Curtis U/SF	47	Patterson, Langston CF26
MLB	0	Overshown, DeMarvion 23/3	50	James, Shemar 25/5	45	Barron, Justin CF25

LCB	26	Bland, DaRon 22/5	29	Moore, Devin 26/4	21	Carson, Caelen 24/5	31	Butler, Josh SF23
SS	34	Thompson, Jalen U/Arz	14	Bell, Markquese CF22	32	Wood, Julius SF25
FS	24	HOOKER, MALIK U/Ind	1	Locke, P.J. U/Den	38	Clark, Alijah CF25
RCB	2	Durant, Cobie U/LAR	28	Revel Jr., Shavon 25/3	25	Bridges, Trikweze W/LAC	39	Speed, Ameer SF26
NB	13	Downs, Caleb 26/1	27	Steward, Reddy W/Min	15	Kendrick, Derion U/LAR	48	Childress, Zion SF25

I think he's a dime linebacker. I don't see him as a quarters safety, which is how Eberflus tried to use him last year. His best year came under Quinn playing that dime LB role. It's only when we lost LVE and we elevated him to full-time LB that Bell faltered.

I think we keep Bland, Moore, Durant, Revel and Carson or Steward at CB and Downs, Thompson, Bell, Locke and Wood or Clark at safety. Childress could steal one of those spots.

I think because either Downs or Thompson can play nickel back (and Downs likely will) that we won't go with six corners.

I do agree on the linebackers. I don't really see more than five worth keeping. If we do view Bell as a dime linebacker, that makes it easier to go with five. Last spot comes down to Robinson or Barron.

 

[gimmesix]

Zimmer and Eberflus ruined a lot of guys. Liufai, Juanyeh, Bland, Carson….maybe it’s the player…but tough to tell.

I think they took a bit of a box guy, like Donovan Wilson but with more speed, and tried to turn him into a deep safety. Despite that exposing him deep, Bell can cover better than most linebackers and he's not bad against the run WHEN he's not a full-time linebacker. I think his role is at linebacker in passing situations BUT we might want to use Downs or Thompson there and bring in a third corner (Durant) as the slot corner. We'd have CBs Bland, Revel and Durant, Ss Thompson/Downs and Hooker and LBs Downs/Thompson and Winters.

 

[gimmesix]

Didn't they extend him for 3 years?

Yep, last year. He's fully guaranteed at $2.8 million this year.

 

[gimmesix]

IMO he still has a say on making the roster, but he will need to make the most of it in TC and PS, whereever Parker decides to place him at

Contract wise, IMO the front office was expecting him last year to be more of a role player for 27, but that was before the flop of Matt E and then changing of the guards.
While his contract is small, relatively speaking, his salary this year was fully guaranteed. Would bet they would look to trade him for next to nothing over cutting him

I think he's still our third- or fourth-best safety, depending on Hooker's play. Hooker's better deep. Maybe Locke is better but he really didn't do that much last year for Denver coming off the major injury.

I like both of the young guys (Wood, Clark), but mainly, I've liked some of what I've seen from them in the preseason. I have no idea if either is worth more than special teams in the regular season.

 

[DuncanIso]

Yep, last year. He's fully guaranteed at $2.8 million this year.

They like him.

Got the shoulder fixed.

Ready to play football.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

They like him.

Got the shoulder fixed.

Ready to play football.

Different DC and coaches now. And they brought in new guys.

 

[gimmesix]

They like him.

Got the shoulder fixed.

Ready to play football.

It's funny. Some act like we don't need depth, and that's about what $2.8 million buys you anymore. I mean, we're paying Thompson $11 million a year to be a starter.

 

[Praxit]

..Bell is one of those players on 3rd n 17, he breaks up the pass.

We're like nice, forgot about him.

 

[RonWashington]

Or selling used cars,life insurance.

Take Carson with him .

 

[TheSport78]

Or selling used cars,life insurance.

 

[DuncanIso]

Likely see a lot of him in the 4-2-5 packages.

He has 4.41 speed, and can play the slot or LB.

Makes a lot of plays.

 

[Coogiguy03]

What is his weight

 

[75boyz]

As others have mentioned, he played decently at safety and in a sometimes linebacker role under Quinn.
Thought he has been in a decline since Quinn left.
He could have left with Wilson to be honest, and I wouldn't have noticed his absence.

Not a big impact player.

 

[big dog cowboy]

What is his weight

google!!!!!!!!