Jets' biggest breakout player is in for impactful season after solid rookie year

Ever since Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrand have arrived in town as head coach and offensive coordinator of the New York Jets, they have been loud and unabashed in their desire to turn this team into a run-heavy offense based around the talents of quarterback Justin Fields and explosive running back Breece Hall.

One wrinkle the new coaching staff will throw into the competition is a stated desire to split up carries in the backfield, giving second-year running back Braelon Allen an opportunity to cement himself as someone who is a part of the long-term offensive vision. It's not unreasonable to get hyped up when discussing Allen's potential.

Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic listed Allen as the Jets' biggest breakout candidate ahead of the 2025 season. Rosenblatt insists that Allen, who never got the touches he deserved in an outdated offense, could fill the same role David Montgomery occupied during Engstrand's time in Detroit.

Allen, who came into the league exceedingly young at just 20 years old, still has his best football in the windshield rather than the rear-view mirror. If Glenn's commitment to the ground game is real and not just the byproduct of offseason hype, Allen won't be rooted to the bench much longer.

Braelon Allen named Jets top breakout candidate after promising 2024 season

Allen started his rookie season off hot, but a regression near the end of the campaign left him with just 332 rushing yards and 3.6 yards per carry. Allen lost some touches to fellow rookie Isaiah Davis, who appeared to be much quicker and more explosive at times than the 240-pound former Wisconsin star.

Allen may not see a seismic upgrade in total touches, as the Jets will need to split carries between Allen, Hall, and Fields all at the same time. The optimistic fan will point out that the Jets' young, talented offensive line features high-end run blockers like John Simpson, Joe Tippmann, and top rookie Armand Membou.

Allen will always make his name as a power back, but he does have much more impressive straight-line speed than most runners his size. In an offense built around the ground game instead of quick Aaron Rodgers dump-offs, Allen could turn back the clock to his Madison days.

Going from Nathaniel Hackett and Todd Downing to one of Dan Campbell's top offensive assistants will surely do wonders for Allen and the Jets offense as a whole. If Montgomery can have the best seasons of his career in this style of offense, why can't Allen do the same?

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