JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 14: Breece Hall #20 of the New York Jets signs autographs during warmups before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on December 14, 2025 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
The Denver Broncos know they need to beef up their ground game, and that is regardless of whether or not they re-sign J.K. Dobbins this offseason. However, one of the most popular speculative plans for the Broncos–Breece Hall–received a major update.
Hall recently expressed a desire to compete for a Super Bowl ahead of his pending free agency.
There are a lot of teams around the league, contenders like the Broncos included, that have been pegged as fits for the former second-round pick for whom the latest news looms large.
Broncos Get Bad News About Breece Hall
GettyBreece Hall #20 of the New York Jets looks on against the Arizona Cardinals.
Hall rushed for 1,065 yards and 4 touchdowns on 243 carries for the 3-14 New York Jets this past season, which would have been tops on the Broncos, and is part of why he seems like a fit with the Broncos in free agency.
Hall is also an adept pass-catcher, with 350 yards and 1 score on 36 receptions.
All of that speculation seemingly hit a dead end on Tuesday, though, when Jets general manager Darren Mougey met with the media ahead of the 2026 NFL combine.
“Ideally, we’d find a way to get a deal done and keep Breece around,” Mougey told reporters on February 24, noting that using either the franchise or transition tag is an option. “I think I’ve said that for the last year since I’ve got here. Breece is a good player. Want to find a way to keep him around. We’ve been going through that process and are still doing so.
“We have a week to find out, if we can’t get to an agreement, which way we’ll go with that tag.”
Mougey, who came from the Broncos, drew attention around his old stomping grounds with the comments, which validated weeks of speculation.
The Broncos ranked 16th in rushing yards during the 2025 regular season, with Dobbins finishing the campaign as the team leader with 772 yards and 4 TDs on 153 totes. That is despite only playing in 10 games due to a foot injury.
Broncos Expected to Move on From J.K. Dobbins
GettyJ.K. Dobbins #27 of the Denver Broncos celebrates after defeating the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Broncos signed Dobbins late in the offseason, and he delivered what they needed out of the backfield. However, his injury history is part of why the Broncos are linked to options like Hall heading into the offseason.
Dobbins suffered a Lisfranc injury that required surgery, but he was on track to return had the Broncos reached the Super Bowl.
They did not, ensuring his season was cut short and potentially ending his tenure in Denver.
“The Broncos … need a player with some longer-term upside to pair with R.J. Harvey as they try to produce a more effective run game,” The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider wrote on February 18. “It would not be shocking to see Denver ultimately sign up for another year of the Dobbins-Harvey pairing, given how well the veteran was playing before his injury, but I expect the Broncos to explore multiple other options first.”
Kosmider predicted Dobbins will leave the Broncos, and there are several teams that could be a fit for the veteran. At the same time, the Broncos saw their former draft pick, Javonte Williams, earn an extension after a resurgent season with the Dallas Cowboys.
That does not mean the Broncos need to follow suit, but bringing Dobbins back on another prove-it deal, along with Harvey and even another draft pick, could make more sense.
That is especially true if Hall is indeed no longer a potential option for the Broncos.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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