The New York Jets wrote a massive check to sign Le’Veon Bell this past offseason, but they may already be looking to move on from the star running back.
The Jets are open to trading Bell prior to Tuesday’s 4 p.m. EST trade deadline and have been engaging in discussions with interested teams, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports. However, it’s unclear what price tag they have placed on Bell, and the idea of giving up significant draft pick compensation and taking on Bell’s contract may deter teams.
Bell is in the first season of a four-year, $52.5 million deal he signed with the Jets that includes $27 million guaranteed. He carries salary cap hits of $15.5 million, $13.5 million and $15 million over the next three seasons. The 27-year-old is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry while the whole New York offense struggles, so it’s possible the Jets will just be content to unload his contract amid a 1-6 start.
A report from before the season claimed Jets head coach Adam Gase was totally against shelling out big money to sign Bell, so that could be a factor in the Pro Bowler being shopped. Gase tried to refute the notion that he never wanted Bell on the team, though he wasn’t exactly convincing.
Mehta lists the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles as teams that might have interest in adding Bell.
