Rich CiminiFeb 24, 2026, 01:22 PM ETCloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on XMultiple Authors
Who will the Jets draft at No. 2? (1:50)Field Yates and Mina Kimes speculate on what the Jets could do with the No. 2 pick in this year’s NFL draft. (1:50)
New York Jets running back Breece Hall, poised to become a free agent for the first time, isn’t going anywhere.
General manager Darren Mougey made it clear Tuesday that the plan is for the Jets to retain their leading rusher, whether it’s with a new contract or with the franchise or transition tag.
“Ideally, we’d find a way to get a deal done and keep Breece around,” Mougey told reporters at the combine. “I’ve said that for the past year since I got here. Breece is a good player, and we want to find a way to keep him around.
“We’ve been going through that process and are still doing so. We have a week to find out, if we can’t get to an agreement, which way we’ll go with the tag.”
The deadline for applying a tag is March 3. Mougey strongly suggested they’d utilize a tag if they can’t finalize a contract.
The Jets had opportunities to trade Hall last season, but they decided to keep him with the hope of extending his contract. Hall rushed for a career-high 1,065 yards, no easy feat on an offense that ranked near the bottom of the league in most statistical categories.
The franchise tag for a running back is a projected $14.5 million. The rarely used transition tag, which would give the Jets the right of first refusal but no compensation if they let him go, projects at $11.5 million.
Dallas Cowboys running back Javonte Williams agreed to a reported three-year, $24 million contract over the weekend. Hall, one of the NFL’s top dual threats, is expected to exceed the Williams deal.
“I do, I do get the sense that Breece wants to be here,” Mougey said. “We’ve had good conversations throughout the season, and after the season.”
The Jets also have big decisions at quarterback. Mougey said former starter Justin Fields, under contract for 2026, is “part of the Jets.” In his next breath, he said they’re evaluating the quarterback position, adding that Fields is one of their options.
Fields, benched after only nine starts, has a $23 million cap charge and still could become a cap casualty.
In other developments, coach Aaron Glenn confirmed that he will call the defensive plays in 2026, a job he let former defensive coordinator Steve Wilks handle last season. Glenn fired Wilks with three games left and replaced him with first-time coordinator Brian Duker. Glenn, himself a former coordinator, said playcalling is his “superpower.”
“So, I’d really like that narrative to change, that he’s trying to force me and Moug to do certain things.”
Who will the Jets draft at No. 2? (1:50)Field Yates and Mina Kimes speculate on what the Jets could do with the No. 2 pick in this year’s NFL draft. (1:50)
Field Yates and Mina Kimes speculate on what the Jets could do with the No. 2 pick in this year’s NFL draft. (1:50)
Rich CiminiFeb 24, 2026, 01:22 PM ETCloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on XMultiple Authors
CloseRich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.Follow on X
“Yeah, we’ll find a way to keep Breece here if we can’t get a deal done,” Mougey said.
The Jets, coming off a 3-14 season, will have an estimated $80 million in salary cap space.