Breece Hall is the unquestioned starting running back for the New York Jets. But he isn't the only one in New York's backfield.
The Jets already have Izzy Abanikanda on the roster, drafted two in the 2024 NFL Draft in Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis and later signed Pro Bowl return specialist Tarik Cohen. At least one of those four will likely be the No. 2 running back for Robert Saleh's squad in 2024.
While Abanikanda has the inside track because he was on the team in 2023, someone else has emerged during the Jets' organized team activities this offseason: Allen.
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The fourth-round running back is already making a name for himself during OTAs as Hall gets ramped up for the season, according to Jets X Factor's Brandyn Pokrass.
With Breece Hall not participating in team drills, rookie Braelon Allen has continued to shine in multiple aspects of the game. On the ground, the Wisconsin product has been decisive in his decision-making and has shown explosiveness downhill. His feel for running the ball is already at a high level. More impressively, though, has been Allen’s receiving ability. He split outside on multiple plays, showing smooth route-running skills. Allen looked like a natural catching the ball when targeted, showing soft hands while transitioning from the catch onto the run.
Why Braelon Allen looks poised for big role for Jets in 2024
The Jets selected former Wisconsin running back in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, hoping to make an immediate impact in 2024. Alongside Hall, these two have a chance to be a dynamic duo for this year and years to come.
Allen, 20, is one of the youngest players in the NFL and doesn't turn 21 until January of next year. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, Allen brings a unique aspect to a running back room that needed someone behind Hall who can provide a change of pace on short downs and a blocking presence for quarterback Aaron Rodgers. A No. 2 running back was a hole in this team before the 2024 NFL Draft, as Abanikanda and former Jet, Dalvin Cook, supplied little production in 2023 with a combined 284 total yards rushing and zero touchdowns.
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Hall and Allen, meanwhile, would bring a one-two punch that can be a problem for opposing defenses to handle. In addition, this lethal combination now helps both players stay fresh and ready for when their numbers are called upon. Rodgers will look to an abundance of weapons that general manager Joe Douglas surrounded him with and the development of Allen is one to keep a close eye on as the start of the season gets closer.
Braelon Allen fit and role on the Jets
Although a "unit" in stature, Allen produced at a high level consistently on the ground throughout his three years at Wisconsin. He led the team in rushing every year of his collegiate career, finishing with a total of 3,494 yards, and tied his career total in touchdowns with 12.
Jets fans should be excited about what Allen will bring to the table on short-downs and in the passing game.
Allen averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2023 and what's more impressive is that 69.5% of his yardage came after contact. Put on Allen's film versus Minnesota from Week 12 of the 2023 college season and you'll get a great idea of what Allen can do when he goes full steam ahead.
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Hall will handle the load of the work on the ground as he carried the ball 223 times this past season and that's coming off an ACL injury in 2022. Now that he's fully healthy, he will be expected to produce at a level that transcends him to become one of, if not the best running backs in football. Nevertheless, although Hall is a superstar with the ball in his hands, he certainly needs work protecting the quarterback. With the selection of Allen, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett now has the option of utilizing Allen on crucial third-down passing plays to block rushers off the edge.
Izzy Abanikanda's future with the Jets
With Allen bringing a power mentality to the running back room, Abanikanda now becomes a potential candidate to be cut this offseason after being drafted in the fifth round just this past year by the Jets. It seemed that Abanikanda never performed at the level that the Jets would've hoped, especially on special teams where he only returned two kicks for a total of 31 yards.
The recent addition of Cohen does not bode well for Abanikanda's case, either. Saleh pumped his fist with excitement during his press conference when the Cohen signing was brought to his attention, stating that Cohen is an "explosive playmaker."
This may be the end of the road for Abanikanda as a New York Jet and one of the main factors is that Allen fills a team need that Abanikanda can't provide.
