NFL Scouting Combine Updates
At the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis, the New York Jets revealed their intentions regarding running back Breece Hall, ensuring he will not enter free agency once the league year kicks off. General manager Darren Mougey confirmed on Tuesday that the organization is considering applying either the franchise or transition tag to Hall before the March 3 deadline.
Breece Hall’s Future
If the Jets opt for the franchise tag, Hall would be set to earn approximately $14.5 million next season. Alternatively, using the transition tag would secure him around $11.7 million. Under the transition tag, Hall could still receive an offer from another team, allowing the Jets five days to either match the deal or opt for no compensation.
“The tags are an option,” Mougey stated. “Ideally we find a way to get a deal done to keep Breece around. Breece is a good player; we want to find a way to keep him. We still have a week to see if we can reach an agreement.”
Hall, who was picked in the second round of the 2022 draft, enjoyed a breakout season last year, rushing for a personal best of 1,065 yards. His performance has kept him in the top 12 NFL rushers with a total of 2,935 yards over the past three years.
Other Notable Running Backs
Meanwhile, the fates of other notable running backs such as Kenneth Walker III, the Super Bowl MVP for the Seattle Seahawks, and David Montgomery of the Detroit Lions, remain ambiguous. Walker, fresh off winning the Super Bowl, finished his fourth NFL season strong, logging two 1,000-yard rushing seasons and averaging over 104 yards per game in the playoffs. His future, however, is unclear as general manager John Schneider refrained from confirming whether the Seahawks would utilize a tag to secure Walker through 2026.
“We’d love to have Ken back. He understands the complexities we face as a team and the overall fit. We’ll have meetings to evaluate our direction later this week,” Schneider noted.
Conversely, Montgomery finds himself under contract with the Lions until 2027, earning around $6 million for the 2026 season. However, his role diminished last year as Jahmyr Gibbs took on greater responsibility in the backfield, leaving Montgomery on the bench for all 17 games. As he prepares to celebrate his 29th birthday in June, Montgomery’s numbers dipped significantly, garnering only 716 rushing yards on 158 carries.
Lions GM Brad Holmes acknowledged this transformation by saying, “We love David; he’s a remarkable player. While we aim to move forward from last year’s challenges, the player must also be committed to their place with the team. Discussions are ongoing, and we’re assessing our options going forward.”
Conclusion
The landscape for running backs heading into the new season is dynamic, with the decisions of teams like the Jets, Seahawks, and Lions potentially reshaping their rosters and strategies for the upcoming campaigns.
