Beginning today (Feb. 17), the window has opened for teams around the NFL to put looming free agents on either the franchise or transition tag. The window is open until 4 p.m. EST on March 3.
For the New York Jets, this period could provide a short-term solution to their Breece Hall conundrum.
The former second-round running back out of Iowa State has enjoyed plenty of success in New York since his arrival in 2022. He posted his first 1,000-yard rushing season last year and remains an excellent receiving back as well.
Does that mean the Jets will look to bring him back for the 2026 season on either tag?
Transition or Franchise Tag?
What is the difference between the transition tag and the franchise tag?
The standard franchise tag prohibits the free agent from negotiating with other teams, while the transition tag allows them to seek opportunities elsewhere; however, the player’s original team has the right to match any offer.
Essentially, if the Jets were to put the franchise tag on Hall, he would be on the team in 2026, no questions asked.
If the transition tag is placed on him, Hall would be given a chance to negotiate elsewhere and see where his market lies. If he finds a deal worth taking, New York would have the final call on letting Hall walk or matching the contract and keeping him on the roster.
As is the case with any player about to be tagged, the price is the most important thing to look at.
For the running back position, the franchise tag is projected to be worth $14.5 million. However, the transition tag cost is $11.7 million. That nearly $3 million difference could bring in an extra player or sweeten the offer for a top star.
The situation with Hall is not as simple as deciding between that $3 million, though.
Breece Hall’s future with Jets
It may seem crazy to believe, but Hall is still just 24 years old and entering his fifth season with the Jets. Not every year has been pretty for the veteran, but his performance in 2025 proved he can carry the workload for an offense devoid of talent in the passing game.
That doesn’t mean the situation isn’t complicated, though.
For many players around the league, being placed on either tag can be viewed as a slap in the face, and it often leads to holdouts. Players want long-term commitments from their teams, and the tag is anything but that.
The Jets are well within their right to put the franchise or transition tag on Hall. It would be the smart thing to do for a team with plenty of needs this offseason, from quarterback to edge rusher.
But Hall would also be within his rights not to be thrilled with the idea of playing for his career on what is essentially a high-priced “prove it” deal. In comparison, former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley was placed on the franchise tag twice, leaving a lingering frustration between him and the organization.
The first chance he got to leave, Barkley took a deal with New York’s arch-rival.
There is nothing stopping Hall from doing something similar; that’s what makes the Jets’ decision more complex than simply putting a tag on a player. New York must learn from their cross-town rival’s mistakes.
Also, if the Jets do nothing and let Hall walk in free agency, the running back will seemingly jump to the first contender willing to make him a highly-paid running back. Kansas City, Dallas, and even Denver seem to be teams that could enter a negotiation battle for Hall’s affections.
New York wouldn’t be able to keep him interested with those kinds of teams hovering.
But that doesn’t seem likely, at least not now. The question at hand is which tag the Jets are willing to put on Hall, and if they are comfortable potentially negotiating a long-term deal after that decision is made.
Final verdict
The Jets have a lot of needs to fill this offseason. Quarterback, wide receiver, guard, defensive tackle, edge rusher, linebacker, cornerback, and safety are among the plethora of issues the team has to solve.
It doesn’t really make sense for them to add running back to that long list.
It’s expected that the Jets will tag Hall this offseason. A transition tag may be the smartest choice for the organization. The franchise tag would cost more and put Hall in the ballpark of top-tier running backs, a level he simply hasn’t reached yet.
The transition tag would allow the Jets to see where the market for their running back currently stands and match any offer. If it turns out that the Chiefs or Broncos are willing to make Hall a $14 million player, the Jets could use that as leverage to match the offer and keep the running back in-house, and then use that as a start of negotiations for a long-term deal.
They would have until July 15 to sign Hall to that extension.
It seems likely that Hall will be brought back to New York this season. How the organization handles the franchise tag window could determine how much time the running back truly has left in Florham Park.
