About a third of the way through the final year of his rookie contract, Jets running back Breece Hall continues to serve as the subject of trade rumor after trade rumor after trade rumor. Each time the subject comes up, though, head coach Aaron Glenn is there to deny, deny, deny. That last denial came today (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) as Glenn reiterated to reporters that the team has “no plans to trade Hall.” 
Today’s denial comes on the heels of comments the 24-year-old rusher made last Friday in London, in which he stressed that does not want to be traded. Hall was approached by reporters, again, today in the locker room, and his tune changed to something seemingly a bit more neutral.
“I haven’t posted anything this season, so (it’s) just a way for me to say I’m ready for whatever comes my way at the end of the day,” Hall confided in the media. “Whether it’s going against an opponent, whether it’s in my life, it’s just for me. It’s a football thing. So, alright, I’m ready for whatever opponent’s coming my way, whatever the case may be. It’s a for-the-game type of thing.”
Hall excited everyone back in 2022 as a second-round rookie out of Iowa State, utilizing a 5.8 yards per carry figure to surpass Michael Carter as the Jets’ starting running back after five games. Tears to his ACL and meniscus derailed a magical rookie season, and though he made a strong return in Year 2, the excitement dissipated as he failed to meet relatively high expectations upon his return to the field. Stagnant development last year, combined with some strong early looks at then-rookie running back Braelon Allen, began some speculation that Hall’s time in New York may be coming to an end.
There have already been reports that an extension is not likely in the cards for Hall. If the playoffs are quickly becoming out of reach for the Jets and Hall is expected to just walk in free agency, it would make all the sense in the world to offer Hall up to a contender in need of help at running back so that the team can get something for him rather than just watching him walk away for nothing.
Regardless, Glenn and Hall both have been adamant about wanting to stay together, and the potential long-term injury of Allen makes Hall far less expendable that he would’ve otherwise been. Still, Hall clearly senses something in the air, and with so many rumors dedicated to the subject, there’s usually fire where there’s smoke.
If they’re not going to get more for trading him than they would for letting him walk, might as well hold on. As a Jets fan, I wouldn’t be too sad to watch him go, but I’d also be happy to see him stay. When things are clicking, he can look great. He’s a dynamic runner, he’s a good receiver, and he’s a willing blocker, and he’s spent his whole career without the benefit of a functioning offense around him, so I think he’s better than he’s gotten to show. But he’s had health problems and his best case outcome is still second tier.
I’ve thought for months that he would make sense on the Chiefs. He would be the best Andy Reid running back fit to actually play for Andy Reid since Shady McCoy. The league is wide open. Contenders are going to take some shots.
Cardinals could use him too