The Jets are in negotiations with Breece Hall and things are taking an odd path.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported on Sunday that the Jets may use the transition tag on Breece Hall to retain him in New York.
But what is the transition tag? What does it mean for Hall’s future with the Jets?
What is the transition tag?
The transition tag allows a free agent to negotiate with other teams but his former team can match the offer. If the original team matches the offer, the free agent stays. If they don’t, the free agent can sign with the team that made the offer.
The difference between the transition tag and the franchise tag is there is no draft compensation with the transition. The franchise tag means the original team receives draft compensation from the competing team.
In short, the transition tag is less of a commitment than the franchise tag.
Why would the Jets use the transition tag on Breece Hall?
The 2026 transition tag is expected to be between $11.5 and $11.9 million, according to Florio.
The Jets want to keep Hall and set the market value. It avoids them risking an overpay. If another team comes in with a massive offer, New York can let go of Hall. Otherwise they’ve retained him for a much fairer price.
The Dallas Cowboys applied the transition tag to Dak Prescott in 2021 before signing him to a long-term extension.
The Jets want to keep Hall around but for the right price. The transition tag is a rare tool to use but if it ends with the running back in the green and white it could be the right move.
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