Hall reacts to Cook's new deal.
Jets Star Breece Hall Shares Clear Admission After James Cook's New Contract originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The running back market moved swiftly this month.
The Buffalo Bills secured James Cook on a four‑year, $48 million extension with $30 million guaranteed on Wednesday, just eight days after the Los Angeles Rams locked in Kyren Williams on a three‑year, $33 million pact with $23 million guaranteed.
Meanwhile, New York Jets running back Breece Hall enters the final season of his rookie deal with a much different outlook.
He said during Jets training camp on July 27 that he does not expect an extension before the 2025 season under the Jets’ new leadership, citing the need to "prove it" to a coach and GM who didn’t draft him.
On Wednesday, after Cook's new deal, The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt reported Hall saying, "They’ve done more than me. They’ve been in better situations. I feel like I’m just as talented as anyone, but those two guys deserve their payday and got what they deserve," speaking on both Cook and Williams.
Breece Hall on the contracts Kyren Williams and James Cook got and how it affects him:
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 13, 2025
“They’ve done more than me. They’ve been in better situations. I feel like I’m just as talented as anyone but those two guys deserve their payday and got what they deserve.”
Breece Hall’s Production and Trajectory with the Jets
After a promising 2022 start cut short by an ACL tear, Hall posted 2023 totals of 994 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns, along with 76 receptions for 591 yards and four receiving touchdowns. He followed that up in 2024 with 876 rushing yards, 57 receptions for 483 yards and eight total touchdowns.
Even though Hall’s 2024 efficiency dipped from 2023 (4.5 yards per carry in 2023 to 4.2 in 2024), he remains among the league’s most talented young backs.
However, while the Jets expect to be very run-centric under new mobile quarterback Justin Fields and new head coach Aaron Glenn, they've also hinted at a committee look with Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis in the mix.
Over 40 career games through 2024, Hall has compiled 2,333 rushing yards (4.6 yards per carry) and 1,292 receiving yards on 152 receptions (8.5 yards per reception) with 22 total touchdowns.
What Cook and Williams Got and Why
Buffalo’s deal with Cook ended a camp "hold‑in" and tied him down through 2029 at $12 million per year in new money, one of the higher AAVs at the position; multiple outlets reported $30 million guaranteed, third in the league behind only Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles and Ashton Jeanty of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Cook piled up 1,009 rushing yards and tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024, all on just 207 attempts (4.9 yards per carry), while adding 258 receiving yards and two more touchdowns through the air on 32 receptions, giving Buffalo one of its signature red‑zone finishers.
Williams, meanwhile, recorded a career-best 1,299 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns on 316 attempts (4.1 yards per carry) last year, along with 182 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns on 34 receptions.
Hall’s receiving volume across 2023–24 rivals most of his peers’, with 133 catches over the two seasons, which is far more than both Cook and Williams, while his rushing totals (994 in 2023; 876 in 2024) trail Cook’s and Williams’ recent 1,000‑yard outputs, even while his average is relatively similar.
Touchdown production is the larger gap, however, as Cook posted 18 total TDs in 2024, Williams had 16, and Hall had just eight.
However, age is on Hall’s side (24) and if he can match his 2023 blend of rushing efficiency and pass‑game output in 2025, he should be in the conversation for an AAV near Cook and Williams.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
