The Arizona Cardinals have a need at running back this offseason and one ESPN insider thinks New York Jets running back Breece Hall could be on their radar.
According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Hall’s connection to former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur makes the Cardinals a potential suitor for him.
“Key number: He’ll be only 25, one of the reasons why he would be one of the most coveted free agents. The Arizona Cardinals, coached by former Jets offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, could be a potential suitor,” Cimini said of Hall.
The Cardinals make sense as a landing spot for Hall on paper.
Arizona’s room consists of a soon-to-be 31-year-old in James Conner, who is a cut candidate after an injury-shortened 2025 season, and Trey Benson, who remains unproven going into his third campaign in the NFL.
But the Cardinals are also in the midst of a rebuild and it remains to be seen if they’d be keen on using some of their $39 million in cap space to sign Hall, who could command a four-year, $41 million deal, per Spotrac.
Another problem for Arizona when it comes to signing Hall is he may never hit the free-agent market, as the Jets are reportedly considering using the franchise tag on their starting running back.
But the same report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler leaves the door wide open for the transition tag, which would allow the Cardinals and other teams to negotiate with Hall while also giving the Jets a chance to match any offer.
Ultimately, we think the Jets will use the $11.7 million franchise tag on Hall, which would force teams to go as high as $12 million annually for the veteran back.
We just don’t see the Cardinals being players for Hall at that price given all the needs Arizona has to address this offseason.
