Much has been made about the contract negotiations between the New York Jets and running back Breece Hall. Fans want to see the former second-round pick extended to a long-term deal in the near future.

Even the Jets agree with that assessment.

“Things are in a good place and I’m hopeful with Breece,” Jets general manager Darren Mougey said last week. “Obviously, we’ll get through this draft process. After the draft, I’ll kind of shift my focus back there and hopefully get something done with Breece.”

What if I were to tell you, though, that Hall was not the most important Jets player who needed a new contract?

That distinction belongs to a player who has opened holes for Hall to run through.

And he is coming off his best season as a pro.

Jets’ extension candidates

Any player from the 2023 draft class is up for an extension this offseason. The two most notable names from the Jets’ 2023 class are edge rusher Will McDonald and center Joe Tippmann, who remain key pieces on the roster despite changes to the front office since they were drafted.

McDonald, as a first-round pick, only needs to have his fifth-year option accepted in order to keep him around through 2027. The Jets have expressed their intent to accept that option.

With Tippmann, though, things are different. The former second-round pick out of Wisconsin has no option at the end of his deal to extend it. After this season, he will become a free agent.

That’s something the Jets cannot allow for the sake of their offensive line, especially after his breakout campaign in 2025.

Tippmann’s breakout

When Alijah Vera-Tucker was lost for the 2025 season just a week before the opening game, the Jets were confident Tippmann could simply slide over to right guard and not miss a beat.

That is precisely what happened. Tippmann helped anchor an offensive line that improved with each game and was a rare bright spot for the organization in a three-win campaign.

This came in his first full season as a starting guard in the league.

More importantly, he earned the respect of his new coaching staff.

“To have guys like that on your roster, man, you’re talking about a culture of players that really love ball,” Glenn said of Tippmann back in December of 2025. “I love the way he goes about his business, and he’s done a hell of a job for us this year.”

It would behoove the Jets to lock Tippmann into a long-term contract as soon as possible. New York cannot allow the position to become a need again in the 2027 draft.

From 2020 to 2025, the Jets drafted an offensive lineman within the first two rounds in five out of six drafts. Two of those five picks are no longer on the roster.

When a team finds a player worth giving a long-term deal to, they have to jump at the opportunity. Extending a homegrown talent like Tippmann is something that well-run organizations would do.

And if the Jets want to be perceived as such, that’s an easy step to take on their behalf.