The Tennessee Titans may pursue a top running back on the free agent market. Current starter Tony Pollard is a potential salary cap casualty. If general manager Mike Borgonzi cuts ties with Pollard, he'll possess over $100 million in cap space to consider a replacement.
The consensus top pending free agent running back is New York Jets ball carrier Breece Hall. There have been rumors that the Jets may consider applying the transition version of the franchise tag on Hall. Jets GM Darren Mougey is still weighing that decision, as nothing has been done yet.
If Hall gets tagged with the transition, he'd still be eligible to negotiate a contract with another organization. The Jets would then possess the opportunity to match or decline that offer. The Titans are a logical potential suitor given the relationship between Hall and Robert Saleh.
Breece Hall could be Robert Saleh's top target for Titans in NFL free agency
Saleh was named Jets head coach in 2021. Hall was drafted by the organization one offseason later, during the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. They spent approximately two-and-a-half years together, as Saleh was dismissed midway through the 2024 campaign.
Hall appeared in seven contests during his rookie season. The former Iowa State standout suffered a torn ACL in the midst of an impressive debut campaign, where he was averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Hall returned to Saleh's Jets in 2023 and rushed for 994 yards as a sophomore.
Hall was nearly traded at the deadline this past campaign as the rebuilding Jets had a firesale in exchange for draft capital. They appear to possess interest in retaining the dual-threat playmaker, but the situation is fluid and remains unpredictable. If Hall reaches the open market, the Titans possess all the financial flexibility required to make an aggressive offer.
Spotrac projects Hall to sign a four-year contract worth $41.5 million. That averages to roughly $10.4 million per season. The Titans could easily afford a similar contract given their salary cap space.
If the Jets allow Hall to hit free agency, the Titans should be prepared to reunite him with Saleh.