The New York Jets are poised to place the transition tag on running back Breece Hall before the franchise tag deadline on Tuesday, March 3. This move aims to keep Hall with the team while avoiding immediate long-term contract commitments amid an active offseason.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport shared updates during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis, highlighting that the Jets do not intend to let Hall leave, reflecting the organization’s desire to retain key players as it shapes its future roster.
One of the big topics here in Indianapolis is what does the future hold for Jets star running back Breece Hall. I would say in the immediate future, the most important thing is that he isn’t going anywhere. The Jets do not want to be in the market of letting good players leave the building. Of course, they did all that this season with the significant draft picks and all that, and they set themselves up for the future. Now it’s time to keep those guys,
Rapoport explained during the NFL Network’s coverage of the NFL Combine.
Expect him to get either the franchise or the transition tag. I’d say more likely [he gets] the transition tag in the coming days unless the Jets are able to lock in Breece Hall on a long-term deal,
Rapoport added.
Financial Details of the Franchise and Transition Tags
The NFL officially disclosed the values for both tags this offseason. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the franchise tag amounts to $14.3 million, while the transition tag is valued at $11.3 million. The Jets’ preference to use the transition tag aligns with the lower financial commitment it entails.
The choice of the transition tag offers cost savings but introduces certain risks. If the Jets apply this tag to Hall, other NFL teams can submit offer sheets to sign him. The Jets would retain the right to match any offer to keep Hall, but failing to match would result in Hall joining the new team without the Jets receiving any compensation.
Once a player is tagged, the two sides have until July 15 to sign a long-term contract or, by NFL rule, the player will play on the one-year deal (or hold out),
ESPN clarified.
Potential Long-Term Contract Outlook for Hall
The market for running backs in free agency is notably strong this year. At the NFL Combine, Rapoport noted that most running backs in this class are expected to earn contracts around or above $10 million per season.
All should make or challenge $10 million per year.
This projection helps explain the Jets’ inclination to use the transition tag rather than the costlier franchise tag. The transition tag price of $11.3 million sits just above the expected free agent market value, while the franchise tag, at $14.3 million, significantly exceeds that range.
Despite holding the third-highest salary cap space in the NFL, with approximately $88.7 million available according to Over The Cap, the Jets face numerous roster needs. General manager Darren Mougey will likely have to allocate funds quickly, and the team prefers to avoid committing heavily to the running back position at this moment.
Using the transition tag allows the Jets to maintain control over Hall’s immediate future without rushing into a long-term contract, preserving cap flexibility as they address other priorities heading into the new season.
.@nflnetwork Insider @RapSheet just said the #Jets are "more likely" to use the transition tag than the franchise tag on RB Breece Hall.
The transition tag is $11.3 million.#NFLCombine #JetUp
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) February 28, 2026
If the Jets can’t sign Breece Hall by Tuesday, they will use a tag. The official amounts for a RB:
Franchise: $14.3M
Transition: $11.3M#Jets https://t.co/hMngnKttbq— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) February 27, 2026
