Pittsburgh Steelers tag RB Le'Veon Bell

Running back Le'Veon Bell's path to free agency was blocked by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday.

Bell was given the exclusive franchise tag, which will guarantee a salary of $12.2 million in 2017 unless the two sides agree to a long-term deal.

With Adrian Peterson and the Vikings expected to part ways this offseason, Bell would be the NFL's highest-paid running back if he plays under the franchise tender. Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is due $9.09 million in 2017; Peterson is owed $14 million.

Under NFL rules, the league deadline for teams to apply the restrictive franchise tag is Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET. At that point, a long-term deal can be negotiated until the July 15 deadline. Once Bell signs the one-year franchise tender, it is guaranteed and can only be replaced by a long-term deal.

The Steelers have never used the exclusive franchise tag, which blocks Bell from negotiating with other teams.

General manager Kevin Colbert is making his offensive stars a priority, signing star wide receiver Antonio Brown to a five-year contract on Monday. Terms of the deal, which run through 2021, were not disclosed by the team.

Bell, 25, missed four games in 2016 but has averaged 128 yards from scrimmage per game.

Bell earned just under $1 million in salary last season with a cap number of $1.13 million.

But for the third consecutive season, Bell ended the season with injury. He was unable to play in the second half of the AFC Championship at New England after twice setting a team playoff rushing record in victories over Kansas City and Miami.

Bell rushed for 1,268 yards (4.9-yard average) and caught 75 passes for another 616 yards last season, becoming the first player in NFL history to average 100 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards per game.