Breece Hall returned to his running ways in 2025, but will he be running out of town next?
The New York Jets running back topped 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career last season, finishing with 1,065 on the ground to mark his third-straight season of at least 1,300 scrimmage yards. Hall has been consistent since entering the league as the 36th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but it’s the first time that free agency is within reach.
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It’s unclear if the Jets plan to franchise tag the star or whether he has a future at all with the green-and-white. If Hall shakes free, he should have no shortage of suitors as a 24-year-old who figures to have plenty of gas left in the tank.
He was a trade candidate around the deadline and the Jets intended direction this offseason is still not known. Are they kicking the can to 2027 for a better class of quarterbacks in the NFL draft? Are they trying to compete in 2026? It makes the Jets one of the more intriguing teams this offseason, since they can go in a variety of directions and Hall is at the forefront.
If free agency awaits, here’s a look at some of the teams that make sense for Hall.
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Breece Hall landing spots
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs tried to acquire Hall at the deadline but failed. Given the team’s documented interest in the running back, it makes sense for them to revisit the idea again in free agency. They are currently over the salary cap, but a little maneuvering goes a long way this time of year.
Hall remains a perfect fit for Kansas City and would bring an element to the offense that is currently lacking. The Chiefs’ backfield is currently composed of players who are either runners or receivers. Hall can be both at a high level and hasn’t played on an offense that maximizes that skill set, given the Jets’ struggles since his arrival.
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New York Jets
Hall is a franchise tag candidate, meaning he might not reach free agency. Even if he does, the Jets are still a team that makes sense as a landing spot. The running back class in the 2026 NFL Draft doesn’t jump off the page and free agency isn’t looking much better. Even if the Jets are already turning the page to 2027, they still need to put players on the field. If they let Hall leave, it just opens another hole for a team that is already dangerously close to working with a blank slate across the board.
Of course, tag-and-trade could be an option if they want to move on. That could give New York an extra draft pick and allow them to pursue someone like Kenneth Walker III if he hits the open market.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders will look to try something different this offseason after the previous one failed miserably. Does David Blough, the team’s new offensive coordinator, want to move forward with Jacory Croskey-Merritt as his lead back? That’s one of the bigger questions that will have to be answered. Armed with a projected $66.9 million in effective cap space, per OverTheCap, the Commanders can afford to spend in free agency to remake the roster.
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Washington will ultimately go as far as Jayden Daniels takes them, but Hall would bring an element that they haven’t had since the quarterback’s arrival. The 24-year-old running back would make for a seamless fit and be a major upgrade to one of the weaker running back rooms in the league on paper.
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Arizona Cardinals
Arizona might not be the win-now destination that Hall could be looking for, but it offers a fresh start with a pair of familiar faces – Mike LaFleur and Nathaniel Hackett. It’s unclear what the Cardinals’ plan is for James Conner, who is coming off a season-ending injury and will be 31 by Week 1.
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By comparison, Hall is only 24 and would help usher in a new era for Arizona as LaFleur reshapes the team to fit his vision. The pair worked together with the Jets, meaning there is plenty of familiarity for both sides. Depending on what they do with Conner, the Cardinals could hand Hall the RB1 role and spend their draft capital on other positions.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Speaking of familiarity, what about the Steelers? They could be getting Aaron Rodgers back under center and that is another player that Hall is certainly comfortable with. The running back certainly enjoyed some extra work as a receiver with Rodgers, numbers that dropped significantly after the veteran’s departure.
The Steelers featured Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell in 2025, but both in separate roles. Warren received most of the rushing work, totaling 211 carries to only 45 targets. Gainwell was the opposite, seeing 85 targets to only 114 carries. Hall is a player who could fill both roles on his own, allowing other complementary options to step in around him. It would add a little explosiveness to Pittsburgh’s offense, while giving Mike McCarthy one more weapon to scheme for in 2026.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Breece Hall best fits: Landing spots for Jets RB in free agency
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