The New York Jets have just two games left before the NFL trade deadline, and with the team at 2-5, fan debates about selling off the team’s top players have already begun.
The Garrett Wilson “conversation” is really nothing more than that, but it doesn’t mean the Jets won’t be active on deadline day; they certainly could be. Then, there is the Breece Hall speculation, fueled by a cryptic post from his X account on Friday.
Could the Jets actually move Hall less than two weeks from now? Would it make sense for the team?
Should the Jets consider moving Hall?
During the offseason, Hall re-signed with the Jets to a three-year, $43.5 million contract with $29 million guaranteed. Since signing the deal, he has played in only three games for the Jets this season, as a quad injury has kept him out of the team’s last four matchups.
In Hall’s absence, Braelon Allen has done an excellent job filling his shoes. Since Week 4, Allen ranks second among RBs in rushing yards (354), second in yards after contact (303), and first in missed tackles forced (22).
Entering the season, Allen had shown flashes throughout his first two years in the league, but he never displayed this level of consistency over multiple games. His recent run of dominance has left fans excited for what his future could hold, and rightfully so.
At the end of the day, though, it’s important to think back to the big picture. Allen’s four-game stretch is exciting, but folks can’t be short-sighted and focus only on that component when discussing the possibility of a Hall trade.
Hall, alongside Wilson, has been one of the Jets’ two consistent playmakers since entering the league in 2022. He has proved to be a threat even behind some of the league’s weakest offensive lines, while also emerging as one of the league’s best pass-catching backs.
Allen’s emergence is excellent for the team, but why should the Jets suddenly have to choose which running back to keep? Some of the league’s top backfields are two-headed. There’s no reason the Jets can’t have one of their own, especially with Allen showcasing what he can do with a heavier workload over the past few weeks.
When discussing a potential Hall trade, it’s also important to consider the running back market across the league. Teams have become increasingly reluctant to give up valuable draft capital for running backs, especially when the player they’re acquiring is already on a lucrative contract, like Hall is.
Even if Hall were to request a trade, which hasn’t been reported, the Jets should not move him unless another team offered a Day 2 pick, an offer that feels unlikely. Last year, reports said the best offer the Jets got for Hall was a fourth-round pick.
A second- or third-round pick would give the Jets another meaningful draft piece as they continue to build out their roster. Acquiring a choice of that value would arguably be worthwhile in exchange for Hall, but anything less just doesn’t seem to make sense.
What is the point in moving Hall just to move him? Let’s say a fourth-round pick is the Jets’ best offer. What are the odds of New York tanking a running back in the fourth round who turns out to be as dynamic as Hall? Moving a top playmaker just to move him isn’t what a team ranked 27th in points per game (19.6) should be doing.
There is a strong case for the Jets to consider exploring trades involving veterans who might not factor into their long-term plans, but Hall isn’t in that category. He is 25 years old and under contract with the team through the 2028 season.
Even if Hall demands a trade before the deadline, the Jets have no reason to give in unless there’s a meaningful return package. If he really wants out and the team is okay with moving him, their best option is to let him get healthy, play out the remainder of the year, and build his stock for an offseason trade, rather than forcing something now.
If the Jets were to flip Hall, they would be stuck relying on pretty much just Allen. As impressive as he’s been recently, he hasn’t proven enough to be viewed as a surefire starter just yet; he’s only played at this level for four games across a three-year career. Should Allen regress or suffer an injury, the Jets’ running game would collapse.
Unless another team comes calling with a Day 2 draft pick before the Nov. 10 deadline, keeping Hall in New York makes the most sense for the Jets, at least right now.
