Breece Hall, Jets
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New York Jets running back Breece Hall reacting in the middle of an NFL game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Tag you’re it!
Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic revealed in a column that “The winds have been blowing in the direction of the Jets tagging [Breece] Hall since the trade deadline, when general manager Darren Mougey resisted overtures from other teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, who, per ESPN, offered a fourth-round pick.”
“Right now, it feels likely that the Jets slap Hall with the non-exclusive franchise tag or the transition tag and then figure something out from there,” Rosenblatt said.
Explaining What That Means
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter announced that NFL teams can begin applying the franchise or transition tags starting today, February 17, and continuing through Tuesday, March 3.
There are three types of tags available: non-exclusive, exclusive, and transition.
According to Rosenblatt, the two most likely tags the Jets will use on Hall are the non-exclusive or transition.
Over The Cap explained that the franchise tag for a running back is worth $14.53 million. The transition tag for an RB is worth $11.72 million, per OTC.
“The non-exclusive franchise tag. This one would allow Hall to sign an offer sheet with another team, giving the Jets the option of matching the offer or receiving two first-round draft picks in compensation if they opt to let him leave for the offering team,” Rosenblatt wrote.
The transition tag is a similar beast to the non-exclusive. There are two main differences, however. The transition tag is slightly less expensive (nearly $3 million less), and if Hall signs an offer sheet with another team and the Jets refuse to match, they will lose Hall and receive no compensation.
Rosenblatt noted that the Jets could choose to tag-and-trade Hall with either of these designations.
The Jets Are Officially on the Clock
If the green and white don’t tag Hall somewhere over the next two weeks, the team would have no way to guarantee he doesn’t reach unrestricted free agency.
There is an eight-day gap between the end of the franchise tag window (March 3) and the start of the new league year (March 11). Hall would be set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 11 if he isn’t tagged or extended by the Jets before that point.
If Hall isn’t tagged by the Jets, it would behoove him to reach the open market so he can maximize his value.
Rosenblatt revealed that “the feeling is that Hall would like to test free agency.”
He has never been a free agent before, and this would allow him to choose his next destination and take control into his own hands. That could also create a bidding war between interested teams.
If Hall were to make it to the open market, Rosenblatt said he would be expected to be a “hot commodity.”
On multiple free agent big board rankings, Hall is featured as a top-10 overall player and the top running back set to be available.
The green and white have plenty of roster needs this offseason, and if they don’t tag Hall, running back would be added to the list.