The New York Jets appear set to retain running back Breece Hall during the upcoming offseason, amid growing speculation about his next contract. Insider Greg Auman from NFL on FOX highlighted Hall’s impressive performance, including a career-high 1,065 rushing yards in 2025, suggesting the Jets are positioned to offer him a significant extension given their available salary cap space.
Auman noted,
“Hall, still just 24, has been a solid back on bad Jets teams, rushing for a career-best 1,065 yards in 2025. New York has ample cap space and traded away some of their best players last year in Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams — will it be willing to overpay to keep him around? Hall has only 18 rushing touchdowns in four NFL seasons, but as the featured back on a more talented offense, he could get that in two years easily. He’ll challenge [Kenneth] Walker for the high-dollar back in this free-agent class, north of $10 million a year,”
Greg Auman, NFL on FOX.
Meanwhile, analysts from The Athletic project Hall’s market value even higher, with Daniel Popper forecasting a four-year, $54 million contract, translating to $13.5 million annually. This figure would place Hall among the top five highest-paid NFL running backs, according to salary rankings from Over The Cap.
ESPN’s Rich Cimini emphasized Hall’s probable expectations in his next deal, stating,
“Presumably, Hall wants a deal that would put him among the top five in salary at his position, which means surpassing Alvin Kamara’s $12.25 million per year,”
Rich Cimini, ESPN.
Jets Consider Franchise Tag Strategy to Retain Hall
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reported that the Jets are expected to use the franchise tag on Hall as a strategic move to maintain control of his rights during the offseason. With the tag in place, the Jets would have exclusive negotiating rights for Hall until mid-July, which could provide additional time to negotiate a long-term contract.
Cimini added that the Jets are motivated to keep Hall off the free-agent market, which would force them to compete against all other 31 NFL teams for his services. Using the franchise tag acts as a safeguard to secure his presence on the roster temporarily, buying the team more time to reach an agreement.
Potential Interest from NFC Franchise Adds Uncertainty
While the Jets work to hold on to Hall, they face potential competition from other NFL teams, notably the Arizona Cardinals, now led by new head coach Mike LaFleur. Cimini pointed out the Cardinals as a possible contender for Hall’s signature, underscoring the competitive nature of his free agency.
The Jets’ choice between applying a non-exclusive franchise tag or the transition tag will have different consequences. If the non-exclusive franchise tag is applied, Hall can still negotiate with other teams; however, the Jets can match any offer or receive two first-round picks in compensation if they choose not to match.
The transition tag offers similar rights but without compensation to the Jets in case they decline to match an offer. Although cheaper, priced at $11.7 million compared to the franchise tag’s $14.5 million, the transition tag carries greater risk of losing Hall without compensation.
Implications for the Jets and Hall’s Career
Breece Hall’s contract negotiations will significantly impact the Jets’ roster and salary cap management moving forward. Securing Hall with a top-tier running back contract would help stabilize the backfield for a Jets offense looking to build around young talent, especially after trading key defensive players like Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams.
The franchise tag move, if applied, signals the Jets’ commitment to Hall while they develop a longer-term financial plan. However, suitors like the Cardinals and the financial and strategic considerations linked with different tag options introduce uncertainty as free agency approaches.
Hall’s decision and the Jets’ handling of his contract will be closely watched this offseason, with the potential to influence the team’s competitive prospects and the running back market at large.
