Jets running back Breece Hall is about to become a free agent for the first time and will be one of the biggest decisions the Jets have to make this offseason. Fresh off his first career 1,000 yard season, Hall’s production over the past few years isn’t elite on paper, but when you consider the chaos around him, it’s been very impressive.
Having spent most of his career with league-worst QB play, Hall will often faced stacked boxes as opposing defenses have no reason to respect the pass. Despite that, Hall has managed to log over 3,300 yards in three and a half seasons. Despite having hit the 1,000 yard mark for the first time this season, he has had seasons in the past in which he gained 994 and 876 in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
So what are the pros and cons to a Breece Hall return:
PROS:
- Proven veteran who hasn’t missed any significant time since his rookie year when he started just seven games.
- Multi-dimensional back who has been under-utilized as a receiver during much of his time with the Jets.
- Should the Jets keep Hall, they could still draft a running back in April, but there will be less pressure to use a resource on the position.
- For Jets fans who are fantasy football enthusiasts, it would mean being able to select a player you root for who clocks in high up in fantasy football rankings.
CONS:
- Hall has been cryptic about his desire to remain a Jet in the past, but has dropped enough hints over the past couple of years that suggest he’d like to move on.
- Whether Hall stays against his will or not, via the franchise tag, he’s going to run the Jets over $10 million per year. Should they choose to go with Braelon Allen, Isaiah Davis and a rookie, it would cost considerably less.
- Does Hall have the respect of the locker room? We’re not going to say we know for sure that he doesn’t, but it’s worth noting that his first 1,000 yard season didn’t earn him team MVP which went to return man Isaiah Williams. Did his teammates grow weary of his constant public suggestions that he wanted out? Rich Cimini of ESPN.com asked that question on a recent podcast, and that’s more than fair.
So the decision Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn will have to make is whether they want a proven productive player at a premium price, or would they rather save some money and move forward with a rookie/free agent and a couple of backups with limited production? We’ll know soon enough.
