The New York Jets offense is expected to vastly different from last season with Justin Fields taking over under center for Aaron Rodgers.
In an offense that could lean a bit more on the running game than previous years, one Jets RB has been making a strong case for an expanded role in 2025.
Jets RB Braelon Allen Named a Winner From the Early Days of Training Camp
Connor Long of Jet X recently dropped his observations from the opening week of training camp and named RB Braelon Allen as one of the ‘winners’ from the first week.
Long wrote, “Running back Braelon Allen made a strong impression during the first week of New York Jets training camp, flashing the high ceiling that has many excited about his potential entering his second NFL season. The 21-year-old back continues to display exceptional vision and decisiveness, consistently hitting the hole with authority and using his 235-pound frame to gain extra yardage through contact.”
Allen’s per touch efficiency wasn’t great last season with an average of just 3.63 yards per carry over his 92 rushing attempts from 2024, but he managed to earn a role alongside a talented back like Breece Hall during his rookie year.
Long added, “Allen appears to be an ideal complement to quarterback Justin Fields, especially in read-option and short-yardage situations. His bruising running style, paired with Fields’ speed and agility, presents a dangerous challenge for opposing defenses. He has also gotten involved in the passing game, adding another layer to his skill set and increasing his potential value in offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand’s system.”
Allen is a physical specimen at a rocked up 235 pound ball carrier, who could punish opposing defenses effectively as a downhill runner in zone read concepts where the offense puts a defender in conflict by having to choose between crashing down on the running or containing a dynamic dual threat quarterback like Justin Fields.
Long concluded, “Slotting behind big-play threat Breece Hall, Allen’s bowling-ball style of play will add a physical edge and balance to the Jets’ rushing attack this season.”
Could 2025 be a Breakout Year for Braelon Allen?
Jets fans should be optimistic about the outlook of Allen entering the new season after Bradley Locker of PFF named the Wisconsin product to the 2025 NFL All-Breakout Team last month.
Locker wrote, “Allen remains the backup to Breece Hall in New York, but Hall’s production declined in a big way last year with only a 68.7 PFF rushing grade. If Allen can improve his pass-catching abilities (50.3 PFF receiving grade) and blocking prowess (52.7 PFF pass-blocking grade), he could emerge as more of an every-down back for the Jets. After all, new OC Tanner Engstrand comes from a Detroit Lions team that gave Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each over 190 carries in 2024.”
This begs the question… Could Breece Hall be phased out of this Jets’ offense in 2025?
Hall is entering the final year of his rookie deal and saw his carries drop from 223 in 2023 (a season less than a full year removed from a torn ACL) to 209 in 2024 with Allen in the mix.
If Hall were to be traded at any point of the season, Allen would have a real shot at becoming a breakout player in 2025.
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