Top 15 worst free agent signings in NFL history

2. Le’Veon Bell, RB, New York Jets

The deal: 4 years, $52.5 million

Running backs nowadays are probably trying to figure out how they can order whatever Le’Veon Bell was having just a handful of years ago. The running back position has depreciated so much in value in today’s NFL, even since Bell signed this deal with the Jets, that the franchise tag is barely over $10 million. Teams simply don’t pay running backs $13 million per year anymore.

Le’Veon’ Bell’s free agency story is one of the wildest in recent NFL history, no question about it.

After some really great years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bell was slated to finally hit free agency in the 2018 offseason. The Steelers ran this man into the ground. They gave him 1,541 touches in five seasons, an average of over 300 per year.

In 2018, Bell wasn’t about to play on the franchise tag again. He could have played for $14.5 million totally guaranteed from the Steelers, but instead, he decided to make a point and sit out the season. After holding out the entire 2018 season, the Steelers let him walk in 2019 free agency and Bell got his bag.

He signed with the Jets to the aforementioned four-year deal worth over $13 million per season. He got a whopping $35 million in guaranteed money. The Jets probably figured that Bell, even though he was already 27, had at least three great years left as one of the best dual-threat running backs in the NFL. They were wrong.

Bell was force-fed his 300-plus touches in 2019 but was not nearly as effective for the Jets as he once was for the Steelers. He played two games for the Jets in 2020 before he was let go and started bouncing around the league.

The Jets got 1,363 yards from scrimmage and four total touchdowns out of Bell for $35 million guaranteed.