Breece Hall has been one of the lone bright spots for the New York Jets since he was drafted.
This past season, Hall became the first Jet to rush for 1,000 yards in a season in 10 years. Since the 24-year-old is not eligible for a fifth-year, this leaves the Jets with the question of whether to franchise-tag Hall or to let him test free agency.
As is the case with any franchise tag decision, there are pros and cons to each side of the decision.
Pro: Breece Hall Is the Glue to the Jets’ Offense
If New York were to franchise tag Breece Hall, the Jets would retain the player who has been their most reliable weapon since his draft. Hall has recorded at least 1,350 all-purpose yards in every season but his first. In his rookie season, he was on pace for those numbers before an ACL injury.
The Jets would benefit from keeping a player who shows consistency, especially for an offense that continues to have question marks going into next season.
Having a safety blanket in the backfield would also undoubtedly help whoever the next Jets quarterback is. Hall can act as a calming veteran presence in the backfield after years of quarterback turmoil.
Hall also has an opportunity to flourish under Frank Reich. Reich has shown that running backs can take the next step in his offenses. Marlon Mack, Chuba Hubbard and Jonathan Taylor all became household names in a Reich offense. Hall will have his best seasons ahead of him in an offense that relies on its running backs to be receivers, as well as workhorses.
Con: Is Hall Worth the Money?
The price to franchise-tag Hall is nothing to sneeze at.
He would make $14.2 million would take up over 12 percent of the Jets’ available cap space going into 2026. The Jets have holes in positions all over the field. Tagging Hall diminishes the use of prospective free agents to fill up the issues that are apparent in the Jets’ roster.
The Jets have invested in the running back position even after drafting Hall. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis have been used in the offense alongside him. Both Allen and Davis have shown flashes of being able to take more workload in the offense. Cementing Hall as the starter would hurt their development in a crowded running back room.
There’s also a question of whether Hall wants to be a Jet. General Manager Darren Mougey and Head Coach Aaron Glenn maintain that Hall has expressed his interest in staying a Jet. However, cryptic tweets and interviews have given fans pause on whether those sentiments are true. Hall is one of the last remaining members of the toxic Robert Saleh era.
If the Jets are looking to change the culture, holding Hall hostage will hurt a locker room in need of an attitude adjustment.
Leave a comment