Beginning Tuesday, NFL teams have the opportunity to use the franchise tag on players they wish to retain ahead of free agency. The cut-off date for applying these tags is March 3rd. It raises the question: will the Jets consider tagging running back Breece Hall during this timeframe?
This decision is quite significant for general manager Darren Mousey and head coach Aaron Glenn. Hall just enjoyed his best season yet, demonstrating he can stay healthy, and he’s still only 24 years old. If he enters free agency, someone is likely to pay him handsomely; after all, he’s a standout in his position.
In 2026, tagging Hall as a running back will reportedly cost around $14.5 million. If the Jets decide to apply the tag, that figure would be fully guaranteed and charged against this year’s salary cap. Fortunately, the Jets have solid cap space to work with—approximately $78.9 million, placing them fourth highest in the league, according to Spotrac. Yet, that’s still a considerable sum to allocate for a running back.
Last season, Hall crossed the 1,000-yard rushing threshold for the first time in four years, accumulating career-highs of 243 attempts and 1,065 yards. He also made 36 receptions for 350 yards, though he missed the last game of the season. His game appearances over the past three seasons are 17, 16, and 16, which is reassuring in terms of his durability.
“Brees is a good player,” Mousey remarked after the season. “I want as many good players back as possible. So we’ll go through this process and see how free agency unfolds, but our aim is to bring back talented players.”
The Jets might tag Hall and subsequently explore a long-term deal with him, which could benefit both parties—assuming they can come to a mutual understanding regarding his worth.
“We’re not diving into hypotheticals or contract discussions at this time, but we will evaluate our options and see where we end up,” Mousey commented.
Another route could be for the Jets to utilize a transition tag on Hall, which would lower his price to about $11.7 million while allowing them to match any offer he receives from other teams during free agency.
The free agent market could be rich in skilled running backs, highlighted by Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III. The Seahawks relied heavily on him during their success against the Patriots.
“Ken was fantastic,” Seattle’s general manager, John Schneider, said. “He’s a free agent and we definitely want him back.”
Other notable running backs potentially on the market include Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams, Rashard White, Rico Doodle, and Kenneth Gainwell.
