The New York Jets made waves at this year’s NFL trade deadline, signaling a clear shift toward a rebuild by moving two of their biggest stars. Cornerback Sauce Gardner was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, while defensive lineman Quinnen Williams was sent to the Dallas Cowboys, marking the two blockbuster trades that stunned the league and the Jets’ fan base alike.
With those moves, all eyes turned to Breece Hall, the team’s dynamic running back and arguably the next logical trade chip in a complete teardown. Rumors swirled as the clock ticked down, but when the deadline passed, Hall remained a Jet.
Why Breece Hall Stayed
League sources indicated that New York’s front office set a firm asking price of at least a third-round pick for Hall, a price no team was willing to meet. The team that reportedly showed the most interest was the Kansas City Chiefs, who were exploring ways to add another explosive weapon to their already potent offense.
However, Kansas City’s best offer was reportedly a fourth-round pick, which the Jets declined. The move showed New York’s commitment to maintaining leverage and not trading players just for the sake of making a deal. From the league’s perspective, this may have been a sigh of relief by preventing the “All Mighty Chiefs” from adding yet another elite offensive threat without paying a premium.
A potential Mahomes–Hall pairing would’ve been a nightmare for opposing defenses. Hall’s ability to create mismatches both on the ground and through the air would have fit seamlessly into Andy Reid’s system. In PFSN’s RB Impact metrics, Hall earned a B Grade with a score of 84.5.
However, the reality of the modern NFL was on full display, highlighting how the running back market remains unforgiving, particularly for players nearing the end of their rookie contracts.
Hall’s Cryptic Message Raises Speculation
While the Jets stood firm, Hall’s patience appeared to wear thin. Shortly after the deadline passed, Hall took to Twitter (X) to post a pair of cryptic, and later deleted, tweets reacting to the Gardner and Williams trades. One included a set of eye emojis that fans immediately interpreted as Hall signaling he wanted to be the next to go.
According to reports from Jordan Schultz, Hall wanted out of New York. Watching teammates who were seemingly untouchable get traded while he stayed behind only deepened his frustration.
Fallout in Florham Park
Head coach Aaron Glenn and the Jets’ front office ultimately decided to keep Hall, but doing so may come at a cost beyond the draft picks they didn’t receive. Hall’s relationship with the team appears strained, and his public frustration could linger throughout the rest of the season.
Unless the Jets can convince him that there’s a plan worth buying into, Hall could very well be on his way out once he hits free agency. For now, he remains in green and white, but the damage may already be done.
The Jets made their message clear: the rebuild is on. The only question left is whether Breece Hall will want to be part of it.