Braelon Allen's preseason surge has reignited Breece Hall trade rumors

New York Jets running back Breece Hall entered the offseason surrounded by trade rumors, with his name surfacing in persistent speculation in the weeks leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft.

While the Jets never engaged in serious negotiations involving their former second-round pick, there was at least moderate interest around the league. Talks advanced beyond the usual preliminary feelers, enough to make Hall’s future in New York a legitimate question.

Those rumors cooled once the draft came and went, and Hall settled back into his role as the Jets’ RB1 heading into a pivotal contract year. But just two games into the preseason, the conversation has flared up again, due in large part to Braelon Allen.

Allen has looked like the Jets’ best running back this summer, and he continued his strong play in Saturday’s 31-12 loss to the Giants, finishing with a team-high 34 yards on 4.9 yards per carry. Hall, meanwhile, managed just 26 yards on 3.7 yards per carry, one week after averaging only 3.0 yards per attempt.

Braelon Allen has reignited Jets' Breece Hall trade rumors

It's a small sample size, sure, but the difference has been noticeable on tape, too. Allen is running with burst and decisiveness, while Hall has at times looked sluggish and uninspired.

For a Jets team already exploring ways to maximize Justin Fields and take pressure off the passing game, Allen’s emergence makes the idea of moving on from Hall — whether via trade or reduced role — feel less far-fetched than it did just a few months ago.

Allen was notably one of the Jets' biggest standouts of the 2024 preseason as well, and while his rookie year got off to a promising start, the Wisconsin product quickly faded and became an afterthought in a struggling offense.

The rookie finished his first NFL season with 334 yards and two touchdowns on just 3.6 yards per carry. He was even surpassed on the depth chart by fellow rookie Isaiah Davis late in the season.

Still, despite Allen’s resurgence and Hall’s underwhelming preseason, it remains unlikely the Jets would seriously entertain moving him before the season begins. After all, this is the same player who finished fourth in the NFL in total scrimmage yards just two years ago.

The Jets are going to give Hall every opportunity he can still be that player with the benefit of an improved supporting cast and an offense built to maximize the ground game.

After all, the Jets ranked dead last in rush attempts a year ago, but they’re expected to be among the league leaders in 2025. In that kind of offensive system, depth isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessity, and Hall still figures to play a central role.

What Allen’s surge has really done is turn up the pressure. Hall’s job isn’t gone, but the margin for error is shrinking fast, and the Jets have made it clear they won’t hesitate to lean on whoever gives them the best chance to win.

Expect the Jets to lean on a committee approach this season, with the possibility of Hall trade rumors reigniting as the deadline draws closer.

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