Is this former top RB pick on the trade block?

The Jets may consider trading Breece Hall

Is Breece Hall better than Kyren Williams? The stats say no, but as 2022 draft prospects the two running backs were separated by three rounds, with Hall ranked as the consensus best player in the class at his position. With rumors circling on Sunday that the New York Jets will look to trade Hall, potentially to open the door for Ashton Jeanty at pick 7, could a deal impact the L.A. Rams at all?

According to Jets beat writer Rich Cimini, usually a great source for intel on the team, New York wants to lean towards a running-back-by-committee and may not be able to extend Hall with classmates Sauce Gardner, Garrett Wilson, and Jermaine Johnson also due new contracts.

Drafting Jeanty would not only upgrade the position, but reset the timeline on extending their starting running back.

Hall’s career started in 2022 as being called one of the best running back prospects of the last five years, having rushed for 3,933 yards and 50 touchdowns over three seasons at Iowa State. He also has receiving ability, totaling 734 yards through the air. Hall led the country in rushing touchdowns in 2020 (21) and 2021 (20).

Then at the 2022 combine, Hall weighed 217 and ran a 4.39 40-yard dash and posted a 40” vertical with a 10’6 broad jump. He was both the most productive and probably the best athlete among all running backs that year, with Kenneth Walker being the only player in his vicinity.

The Jets had an embarrassment of riches in the draft, picking fourth, tenth, and 26th, which is where they landed Gardner, Wilson, and Johnson. All three have had their ups and downs, but are still three of the best players that the Jets have drafted in a very, very long time.

Hall’s story is no different.

After missing 10 games as a rookie (but averaging 5.8 yards per carry), Hall has played in all but one game in the past two seasons. He has been on the field, but hasn’t been the most productive runner by any means:

• 2023: 994 rushing yards, 4.5 YPC, but 591 receiving yards
• 2024: 876 rushing yards, 4.2 YPC, 483 receiving yards

One of his other issues is fumbling: 8 fumbles in the past two seasons, including 6 of them in 2024 alone.

Of course, Breece Hall plays for the Jets, so he isn’t getting the best offensive line or coaching that money can buy. How productive would Hall have been for Sean McVay if he had Kyren Williams’ job instead?

Tell me your answer to that question in the comments.

If Hall and Williams both become free agents in 2026, the truth is that Breece Hall might still get more money despite Williams rushing for over 2,400 yards and 26 touchdowns in the past two years. If Hall is healthy — injuries and fumbling are also issues for Williams, who also has 8 fumbles in the past two seasons — teams will likely still value his athleticism more than Williams’ talents.

Of which he has many, but nobody’s ever going to teach him to be .2 or .3 seconds faster in the 40.

Imagine if the Rams offered Williams to the Jets straight up for Hall, who would say no? Believe it or not, the Jets might be the ones to turn it down. Of course, we know that they might turn it down because if they’re not going to pay Hall, they’re not going to pay Williams either. But if both running backs were on the trade block right now, the Jets might still get more for Hall than the Rams would get for Williams.

Ultimately, the Rams insist that they want to extend Kyren Williams this year and that’s probably what they will do. If Hall hits the trade block and is traded to a division rival — the only that really makes any sense is Arizona, but could Hall be insurance for Christian McCaffrey? — the results may not impact L.A. at all or he could become one of the most dangerous opponents to defend in the NFC West.

Is Williams someone who the 49ers, Seahawks, and Cardinals fear the same?

Maybe they do. But we might not see the real Breece Hall until AFTER he’s been traded from the Jets.