Breece Hall just reminded the Jets why trading him would be a huge mistake

It might have been easy for New York Jets fans to forget that in 2022, it was Breece Hall and not Garrett Wilson who was the early favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. It wasn't until a torn ACL ended his season after just seven games that Wilson ascended to take home that honor.

However, since his rookie year, Hall has failed to reach those same electrifying heights. His yards per carry dropped from 5.8 to 4.5 in 2023, falling again to 4.2 in 2024. At the same time, his efficiency in the passing game plummeted. Hall was tied with Tony Pollard last season for the most drops among running backs in the NFL with eight.

The biggest concern last year was the disappearance of his breakaway speed. Hall, at times, looked slow, and when he found a crease in the defense was often chased down from behind. That development, combined with Hall being in the final year of his contract, has led to some murkiness regarding his future with Gang Green.

Doubt about his future only heightened when new head coach Aaron Glenn came out and stated that he intends to use all three of the Jets' running backs, though the second part of his statement was that he wasn't interested in trading Hall.

Breece Hall's Week 1 performance proves why the Jets would be foolish to trade him

With 19 carries for 107 yards and two catches for an additional 38 yards, Hall showed that he still has that game-breaking potential. Time after time against the Steelers, Hall ripped off big chunks of yardage, helping keep the offense on schedule and taking pressure off of quarterback Justin Fields.

We can debate the validity of trading up to take Hall in the second round back in 2022. We can question whether or not the team would have been better off making a different selection with that pick. That is all irrelevant now. Hall is, at least for the time being, a member of this team.

And with so many concerns surrounding the offense, he's an important one. Garrett Wilson is a top-tier receiver, but he doesn't have the breakaway gear that Hall has to the point where he can take it to the house any time he has the ball.

Beyond Wilson, the rest of the talent at the skill positions is pretty bleak. The plodding Josh Reynolds is the No. 2 receiver after all. With Fields under center and the rest of the non-Wilson cast of characters either unproven or simply not very good, the team desperately needs a home run threat if they are to have any success.

That's what Hall is, and his Week 1 performance should serve as a reminder to all those who doubted him. He hasn't lost a step, and he can break a game open at a moment's notice.

It's a fair question as to whether or not the Jets should sign him long-term. Second contracts for running backs rarely work out well, and Hall already has some significant injuries on his resume. With that said, his potential to produce in 2025 is worth much more than whatever mid-round pick they could get for him via trade.

If the Jets truly want to see what they have in Justin Fields and develop this young team, they need Hall, and his performance yesterday proved it.

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