Jets' gamble with Breece Hall could end in absolute disaster

The NFL trade deadline rarely delivers league-shaking moves. It’s typically a time for smaller transactions or rentals involving players on expiring contracts heading to contenders. But the New York Jets turned that expectation on its head by shockingly trading both Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, arguably their two best players.

Given their 1-7 record, it wasn’t surprising that the Jets were active sellers. What was surprising, however, was seeing two of the team’s defensive cornerstones dealt away, even if each brought back a sizable return to boost the team’s draft capital over the next two years.

Almost as surprising was the player who didn’t move. Running back Breece Hall remained in New York despite making it clear he wasn’t happy with his usage or the team’s direction.

Those frustrations reportedly came to a head on deadline day, when NFL insider Jordan Schultz noted that Hall “wants to be out.” Yet, nothing materialized.

There was an offer on the table, though, as SNY’s Connor Hughes reported that the Jets were steadfast in wanting a third-round pick for Hall, while the Kansas City Chiefs offered a fourth-rounder.

With the Jets far from contention and one of their most talented players unhappy, holding onto Hall could prove risky. While his presence will help the offense in the short term, the team may have created a volatile situation heading into the second half of the season.

Keeping Breece Hall could prove disastrous for the Jets

The Jets are now stuck with a seemingly unhappy player for the rest of the season. At 1-7, keeping a talent like Breece Hall, who clearly doesn’t want to be there, could lead to more public frustration as the losses pile up.

It’s one thing to trade away two players who weren’t even rumored to be on the block, but another to keep one who’s been speculated to move since the preseason. That dynamic could linger in the locker room as the season wears on.

From the front office’s perspective, it’s a gamble to hold onto the fourth-year back and risk losing him for nothing in free agency. That might end up being the most questionable part of all this, unless the Jets feel that having him around is still better than nothing, especially with Braelon Allen’s long-term injury.

The Jets could always use the franchise or transition tag on Hall this offseason to keep him around. But that would also mean holding onto an unhappy player, which could easily become toxic in the locker room and restart another cycle of trade rumors.

Of course, tagging him could also be a way to control the situation, as they can sign him and then trade him for offseason compensation. But that opens the door to a messy scenario as well.

Or maybe the Jets simply let him walk.

So while it was an aggressive trade deadline, what the Jets didn’t do might end up defining their season, setting up a storyline that could stretch well into the spring.