Every route the Jets could take with Breece Hall this offseason

In the shadow of the New York skyline, the new era Jets — led by general manager Darren Mougey and head coach Aaron Glenn — are staring down a mid-February math problem that could dictate the success of their entire 2026 rebuild.

While the team boasts a top-five cap space figure of roughly $83 million, the most urgent item on the ledger isn't a new quarterback or a veteran pass-rusher — it’s the future of the man who single-handedly carried the offense through a dismal 2025 in running back Breece Hall.

Hall’s 2025 campaign was a masterclass in perseverance. Despite a carousel of quarterback play and inconsistency around him, Hall recorded his first career 1,000-yard rushing season, finishing with 1,065 yards and proving he has fully recaptured the explosive form that defined his pre-injury rookie campaign.

And now, for a Jets team looking to provide a safety net for whatever new signal-caller arrives this spring, Hall isn't just a running back; he is the team's offensive identity.

Should the Jets place the franchise tag on Breece Hall?

The Case for the Tag (or the Transition Play)

With a projected $83 million in the bank, the Jets can easily afford the $14.5 million franchise tag value. The argument for the tag is about avoiding a similar situation to that of Saquon Barkley's move from New York to Philadelphia a few years ago.

If Hall hits the open market, a contender with a hole in the backfield — like the Chiefs — could easily lure him away with a long-term deal the Jets are hesitant to match.

Interestingly, rumors from One Jets Drive suggest the team is exploring the transition tag as a middle ground. At a projected $11.73 million, it saves nearly $3 million in cap space while giving the Jets the right of first refusal on any contract offer Hall receives.

In a buyer's market for running backs that includes names like Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III and former Buccaneers standout Rachaad White, the Jets are betting that no team will blow past that $11 million mark, allowing them to retain Hall on a more reasonable number.

The Trade Temptation

If the Jets are committed to a total reset, retracing their same mindset when they shipped off Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, the tag-and-trade becomes the ultimate asset play. After reportedly turning down a fourth-round pick from the Chiefs at last year's deadline, the Jets know Hall's value remains high.

By tagging him, they could potentially flip the star back for a Day 2 pick or a package of picks to help build a more balanced roster. With 33 impending free agents, Mougey might decide that one elite running back isn't worth the cost of three solid starters elsewhere.

The Verdict

Hall has expressed frustration with the losing culture in New York, but he remains one of the team's most marketable and productive stars alongside the recently extended Garrett Wilson.

While the $14.5 million franchise tag feels rich for a rebuilding team, the risk of entering 2026 with a potential rookie signal-caller and zero proven playmakers in the backfield is even richer.