Jets cannot afford to mishandle the Breece Hall situation this offseason

With the NFL in the offseason, it’s officially decision-making time. Teams are currently deciding on the future of soon-to-be free agents, determining if they should be tagged, signed to a new deal, or let go in free agency. The New York Jets will soon have to pick one of those paths for running back Breece Hall.

The veteran running back is set to be a free agent after completing the four years of his rookie contract, and there will be a lot of eyes on his situation in New York.

While it’s currently unclear what the Jets will do, their past decisions have already laid out what the right decision is for the franchise. Simply put, New York has to keep Hall on the roster, or the franchise would look silly for not trading him.

Jets must bring back Breece Hall after refusing to trade him

Hall has been an extremely productive running back the last three seasons, surpassing 1,200 yards from scrimmage in all three seasons. As a result, he quickly emerged as a player a lot of teams would love to have on their roster. Teams tried their best to get him, too.

When the Jets were in the middle of another abysmal season in 2025 and traded away guys like Quinnen Williams and Sauce Gardner ahead of the mid-season trade deadline, many people assumed Hall could be moved as well. New York received calls about the running back, but opted to hang on to him.

The only way that decision makes sense is if he remains with the team into next season. Otherwise, the Jets will lose Hall for nothing when they had an opportunity to get a parting gift for the talented running back.

The Jets finished the year 3-14, so it’s not like the team held on to him to contend; he was kept strictly with the idea that he would be a part of the franchise’s future. At least, that was the assumption at the time.

It’s now time for the Jets to follow up on that plan. The team can either tag Hall (franchise or transition) or give him a long-term extension. Whatever the path, Breece Hall needs to remain in New York, or the team’s decision not to trade him will look increasingly nonsensical in hindsight.