Former All-Pro Puts Breece Hall Near Bottom Third of 2025 RB Starters

Last season saw a decline in performance for New York Jets running back Breece Hall, despite his status as one of the team's brightest young stars. This downturn reflects a broader struggle for the Jets, leading to low expectations from major media outlets as training camp nears.

Former NFL All-Pro Maurice Jones-Drew ranked Hall as the 19th best projected starting halfback for 2025 in his league-wide assessment. Jones-Drew acknowledged the challenging environment Hall played in, citing poor surrounding talent and team structure, particularly noting inefficient quarterback play as a factor in Hall's decreasing efficiency over the past two seasons. However, Hall isn't receiving the full benefit of the doubt for his struggles.

Hall's production dipped significantly after a breakout 2023 season where he amassed 994 rushing yards, 5 rushing touchdowns, 591 receiving yards, and 4 receiving touchdowns. In contrast, his 2024 totals fell to 1,359 yards from scrimmage (down from 1,585) and his average yards per touch decreased from 5.3 to 5.1. Advanced statistics also confirmed this decline.

Entering a contract year in 2025, Hall is focused on regaining respect and re-establishing himself as a premier running back. However, he faces uncertainty within the Jets' new offensive system led by first-time coordinator Tanner Engstrand and new quarterback Justin Fields. Jones-Drew suggests Engstrand, coming from Detroit's system featuring a two-headed monster in the backfield, might implement a committee approach. New head coach Aaron Glenn reportedly prefers a three-RB rotation, meaning Hall could see some carries go to Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis, potentially reducing his opportunities.

While Jones-Drew believes Hall will remain the lead back, a rotation could impact his ability to climb the rankings. Hall doesn't necessarily need an increased workload to regain his standing; maintaining his current touch count while improving efficiency, returning to form in scoring, or pushing for 1,000 rushing yards could suffice. The key requirement is for Hall to perform better than he did last season.