Unheralded Jets star named breakout candidate after major offensive change

The New York Jets are not shying away from the fact that they will be a run-first team in the 2025 season, as Aaron Glenn's hard-nosed style, coupled with the addition of quarterback Justin Fields, has made it perfectly clear that this team will try to dominate on the ground.

While trade chip Breece Hall will once again stand out as the lead dog in the backfield, the Jets might be more willing to unleash 240-pound second-year sledgehammer Braelon Allen if he impresses the coaching staff. Some media outlets are very bullish on his potential.

Pro Football Focus listed Allen as their starting running back for their "All-Breakout" team ahead of the 2025 season, citing his 82.0 rushing grade and 73.6 overall grade during his rookie season. Perhaps Nathaniel Hackett and Todd Downing didn't realize exactly what they had.

Aaron Glenn's quotes in the offseason seem to hint at a bit more of a committee-based approach coming to the Jets' backfield this season. Allen may end up being the biggest benefactor of that directive, as he could get the chance to shine that last year's team did not afford him.

Jets RB Braelon Allen named to PFF All-Breakout Team for 2025

Allen started off his rookie year (a year in which he was the youngest player in the NFL at 20 years old) in sterling fashion, but he managed to regress to the point where he was very rarely getting touches in the late stages of the season. Allen mustered just 3.6 yards per carry last year.

While Allen has solid speed for a bigger back, he will need to show the Jets that he has lateral wiggle to break tackles at the professional level and avoid the trap of being a one-cut short-yardage back.

Allen's floor is quite low, as there's an equally likely reality in which Hall relegates him to spot duty or fellow 2024 draftee Isaiah Davis ends up leapfrogging him.

However, the potential of what the former Wisconsin star could be is so mouth-watering that new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand will try to make No. 0 his new David Montgomery.

At his peak, Allen could easily vulture some carries away from Hall in Year 2 and challenge for over 1,000 yards if he were in a full-time starting role behind this much-improved offensive line. He's a risk, but Glenn and this coaching staff seem more than willing to take that risk.

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