Adam Schefter breaks down why RB Le'Veon Bell is not obligated to report to training camp if he and Pittsburgh fail to strike a deal before the deadline. (2:01)

With Kirk Cousins and Trumaine Johnson widely expected to play out their second consecutive franchise tags, all eyes will be on the Pittsburgh Steelers' negotiations with Le'Veon Bell that are pressing against the 4 p.m. ET deadline.

Franchise tags are often a deadline-fueled standoff, and this appears to be no different.

The Steelers would prefer to complete a long-term deal with Bell, but they will want to keep the money reasonable.

He's expected to play on a $12.1 million tag or an extension with a per-year average of something close to that.

Either way, Bell will soon be the league’s highest-paid back, surpassing LeSean McCoy's $8 million per year.

Here are a few key themes surrounding Bell's negotiation: