The New York Jets‘ fire sale at the trade deadline saw them part ways with several key players.
Quinnen Williams, Sauce Gardner, and Michael Carter II were all cut loose, netting New York a haul of draft capital and a handful of young players.
Among the players the Jets decided not to part ways with was running back Breece Hall.
Hall had been a hot name on the trade market all season, because he’s an impending free agent and the perceived lack of interest in New York extending their star running back.
But the team hung onto the former Iowa State standout, and it remains to be seen if the Jets will look to extend the dual-threat offensive weapon, or potentially even use the franchise or transition tag on him.
ESPN Predicts Josh Jacobs Deal for Breece Hall in 2026
ESPN analysts Matt Bowen and Jeremy Fowler released their 2026 NFL free agency rankings and predictions, with Hall being listed as the sixth-best free agent and top available running back.
Fowler believes that the New York Jets’ second-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft will be highly sought after if he hits the open market, and compared his value to that of Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs.
“Hall was coveted at the trade deadline. That the Jets wanted a third-round pick in return for a running back reminds that Hall has top-end talent,” wrote Fowler.
“And my sense is he will do just fine in free agency — think Josh Jacobs‘ four-year, $48 million deal signed in March 2024 as a possibility. A few personnel evaluators thought that was a fair contract comp.”
The predicted deal would shake out to about $12 million per year for Hall, making him tied for the sixth-highest-paid running back in the league with Jacobs.
Hall’s predicted contract is a fairly reasonable deal, especially for the current market on backs around the league.
Is it possible that New York would give this contract to their fourth-year running back themselves?
Should the Jets Re-Sign Hall Themselves?
If the New York Jets opted not to trade Hall at the trade deadline, wouldn’t that mean they would be interested in retaining him?
Jets fans sure hope so, as outside of Garrett Wilson, he’s been the team’s most productive and best offensive player.
“He’s a fluid mover with good contact balance and the vision to find daylight, and he brings a dual-threat element to the backfield,” wrote Bowen.
“He also has 82 rushes of 10 or more yards over 3½ seasons, so he’s a three-down back with big-play juice.”
In 49 career games in New York, Hall has carried the ball 650 times for 2997 yards, scoring 16 touchdowns.
He’s a threat through the air as well, catching 174 balls for 1512 yards and nine touchdowns.
With the Jets likely to have a rookie quarterback under center in 2026, they should look to surround him with as much talent as possible, ensuring he has the best chance to succeed.
Hall should be one of those players, as what better way to take some pressure off of a first-year quarterback than supplying him with a consistent running game?
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