Breece Hall, Jets
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New York Jets running back Breece Hall reacting after an NFL game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The New York Jets franchise tagged running back Breece Hall on March 3.
Since then, there have been crickets. NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY revealed on “Jets Final Drive” that the Jets are going to “revisit that right after the draft.”
The 2026 NFL draft is set for Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25.
Hall Is Expected to Command a Record-Breaking Contract
“There was a stretch there right before they actually tagged Breece Hall, where the Jets were pretty confident that this was going to get done. They were very confident in the way things were moving, and they thought they were close [on a long-term deal]. It came to be known that they were not in fact close,” Hughes bluntly explained on “Jets Nation.”
“I was in ‘High Velocity’ in Indianapolis with a general manager. We were talking about Breece Hall, and he said, ‘Kenneth Walker and Breece Hall… Breece Hall is a better player.’ That $14.5 million, which is worth up to $15 million that Kenneth Walker got, everything that I’ve heard from talking to sources, Breece Hall should expect to get more and will likely get more,” Hughes revealed.
“As far as those conversations with the Jets, they are not happening right now, but from talking to multiple sources, they plan to re-engage after free agency and after the NFL draft. Finding something or getting something done with Breece Hall will be a top priority for New York,” Hughes added.
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“From talking to multiple sources, is that they plan to reengage after free agency and after the NFL Draft – getting something done with Breece Hall will be a top priority for the Jets”
– @Connor_J_Hughes on Jets Nation
Funny Money Is Coming for Hall
The Jets placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Hall this offseason. That is a one-year deal for $14.29 million. That annual salary makes Hall the fifth-highest-paid running back in the NFL, per Over The Cap.
In free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs handed the reigning Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker a three-year, $43.05 million contract. That new deal pays him $14.35 million per year, which ranks fourth most among the highest-paid RBs in the league, per OTC.
According to Hughes, Hall “should expect to get more and will likely get more” this offseason. The Jets have until July 15 to work out a potential long-term deal.
Here are the three highest-paid running backs in the NFL (above Walker):
Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles): $20.6 million per year
Christian McCaffrey (San Francisco 49ers): $19 million per year
Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens): $15 million per year
It’s difficult to compare Hall (24-years-old) to these elite tailbacks. McCaffrey and Barkley are five years older than Hall (29), and Henry is eight years older than Hall (32).
However, we will take a look at the last four years of production.
Hall, during that time, accumulated 5,040 yards from scrimmage and scored 27 total touchdowns.
McCaffrey has 6,377 yards from scrimmage and scored 51 touchdowns over that same stretch.
Barkley has 6,588 yards from scrimmage and scored 44 touchdowns during that period.
Finally, Henry has 7,176 yards from scrimmage and scored 59 times during that same period.
With all due respect, Hall doesn’t seem like he is in that stratosphere of running back based on the numbers. A potential contract of this magnitude would require a lot of projection from the Jets of what they think he can do versus what he has done previously.