The Jets, flush with cap space, need to surround rookie quarterback Sam Darnold with as much talent as they can get. And one of the most dynamic offensive players in football is reportedly on the market.

So it was no surprise on Monday when the Daily News reported that the Jets had reached out to the Steelers about trading for disgruntled star running back Le’Veon Bell.

Is it just due diligence, or might the Jets be serious about getting a deal done?

If the Jets are smart, they won’t trade for Bell.

It's easy to see why a trade is tempting. He'd be a great fit for the Jets.

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He's a transcendent talent that can change the face of the offense. He’s made the Pro Bowl in three of the last four seasons. He can beat defenses with the run — he had nine touchdowns and 1,291 rushing yards last year — and catch passes out of the backfield — he had 85 catches for 566 yards and two touchdowns last year.

He’s only 26 years old, and would instantly make the Jets’ running back corps younger and one of the strengths of the team.

He’d be the perfect weapon for Darnold, taking a lot of pressure off the young rookie. And the Jets have more than enough cap space to absorb his $14.5 million salary.

There are a lot of reasons why Bell would be a great fit for the Jets.

But they shouldn’t trade for him now when they can make a run at him as a free agent in a few months.

Bell’s situation with the Steelers has deteriorated to the point where it’s almost impossible to see him signing a long-term deal in Pittsburgh. So he’s going to hit free agency in March. Why should the Jets give up a mid-round pick or more to trade for a guy they can get for nothing next year.

It’s not as if the Jets are on the cusp of being a contender and adding Bell right now makes them one of the best teams in football. There’s no rush. Bell is still young enough to contribute for several years if the Jets make a run at him in free agency. They’re better off using their draft capital to upgrade other parts of the roster that need more urgent help.

The other problem is that if the Jets trade for Bell now, there’s no guarantee that he’ll remain with the team long-term.

The Jets can’t do what the Bears did with star defensive lineman Khalil Mack: trade him and then immediately sign him to a long-term contract extension. But since Bell will be playing 2018 on the franchise tag, the Jets won’t be allowed to negotiate a deal with him until after the season. That means other teams will be able to get in on the pursuit and drive the price up. And Bell, obviously, is looking to get as much money as he can.

The Jets can’t risk sending valuable draft picks to Pittsburgh for a rental, especially when they’re not in position to contend.

There are other concerns about Bell, too. Is it worth paying a running back the nearly $15 million he seeks? Has he moved on from earlier off the field issues that got him suspended? Bell missed the first two games of the 2015 season because of a marijuana arrest and the first three games of 2016 for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

Bell is such a transformational presence on offense, and young enough, that he’s worth the price tag and the potential trouble. But not right now. If the Jets want to pursue him, they should wait until free agency.

Email: vasqueza@northjersey.com