The New York Jets might not be a contender just yet, but with five first-round picks over the next two years, the Jets will have the ammo to build a solid roster.
That will all begin this offseason, and the biggest decision for the Jets is what to do with Breece Hall. The star running back is set to hit free agency after four years with the Jets.
But, as ESPN's Rich Cimini reports, not only do the Jets want to sign Hall to a contract extension, but the Jets running back is seeking a $12.25 million per-year deal, which is very affordable for the Jets.
Jets get good news on Breece Hall amid $12.25M contract
"The Jets would like to prevent that from happening with a contract extension," Cimini writes. "... Presumably, Hall wants a deal that would put him among the top five in salary at his position, which means surpassing Alvin Kamara's $12.25 million per year."
Letting Hall walk is something the Jets do not want to let happen this offseason. Cimini notes they want to extend him before he has a chance to hit the open market.
And the Jets have some leverage to make such a deal work. They can place the franchise or transition tag on Hall to stop him from hitting the open market.
But, they're also likely to offer him a new contract, one that could, in theory, be a top-five contract for a running back.
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Should the Jets spend that much, over $12.25 million per year, on a running back, considering the state of their roster?
It's actually not a bad idea for the Jets, since they have $80 million in cap space, and with Hall being just 25 years old, he's the exact kind of player worth keeping around as the team rebuilds.
Keeping Hall seems to be a priority for the Jets this offseason, and with a target deal of around $12.25 million per year, the Jets should be able to work out an extension with Hall that pays him like a top-five running back in the NFL.
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