Jets Won’t Break Bank For Le’Veon Bell

The Jets have interest in Le’Veon Bell, but they won’t take a do-whatever-it-takes approach to sign him, Manish Mehta of the Daily News hears. The Jets will have upwards of $100MM in cap space, but it appears they will prioritize other needs instead of going all-in on one of the game’s most dynamic running backs. 

Bell’s ability cannot be questioned and he profiles as someone who would keep defenses honest as quarterback Sam Darnold continues in his development. However, Mehta hears there is a “level of concern in the building” about Bell’s motivation if he lands a big payday.

Bell sat out the entire 2018 season with the Steelers, forgoing a $14.5MM payday in order to preserve his health for free agency. His actions may give NFL executives pause, but on the plus side, Bell should be entering the 2019 season with fresh legs. He may also be extra motivated to prove the doubters wrong.

Last year, Bell turned down a five-year, $70MM offer from Pittsburgh that would have included $33MM in guarantees. There’s no telling what kind of offers Bell will fetch this time around, but it’s safe to assume that he’ll be aiming for a larger guarantee on a deal with an AAV in excess of $14MM.

Bell has expressed interest in joining the Colts, but Mehta guesses that they will not spend big on a running back given the presence of Marlon Mack. He also suggests the Buccaneers, Eagles, Raiders, and Dolphins as potential fits for the multiple-time Pro Bowler.

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