Jets Pay Big Bucks to Cleverly Sign German Behemoth…
The New York Jets weren’t done adding rookies to their roster following the NFL Draft, they’ve been very active in the undrafted free agent market, with one name sticking out above the rest.
The Jets inked German offensive tackle Leander Wiegand to a deal that contains a handsome $249,000 guarantee, the largest of any UDFA player they’ve signed this season and one of the highest UDFA contracts around the league.
The Jets clearly believe in Wiegand’s potential, and likely signifies that he will be the team’s International Player Pathway practice squad representative, a clever move which doesn’t count against team roster totals.
Wiegand boasts a glowing athletic profile. Wiegand stands at 6-foot-5, 318 pounds, and he truly packs a punch. At his pro day, he did 38 reps on the 225 bench press, five more than any player at this year’s NFL Combine and seven more than Jets’ first round pick Armand Membou, who posted the best performance among offensive tackles at the combine.
Wiegand had an unconventional path to the NFL. He originally committed to play for the UFC Knights in 2021, but after a few months left the school and returned to Germany for personal reasons. He continued on his football career in Europe, first playing for the Cologne Centurions before becoming a major piece of the Rhein Fire’s championship-winning offense. Wiegand was named first-team All-ELF that season.
In 2024, Wiegand joined the Munich Ravens, where he was coached by former Cleveland Browns All-Pro tackle Joe Thomas.
Wiegand has demonstrated positional versatility in his time in Europe. When playing with the Rhein Fire, he caught a touchdown pass after lining up at tight end. He’s also had plenty of experience lining up as an extra offensive lineman.
New Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and offensive line coach Steve Heiden (himself a former NFL tight end) could deploy Wiegand in a similar fashion to how Aaron Glenn’s former team – the Detroit Lions – used fan favorite Dan Skipper, who would frequently line up as a jumbo extra lineman or an eligible receiver.
The Jets are betting on Wiegand’s physical traits to pan out, and he will challenge Obinna Eze for the Jets’ designated IPP spot.
The Jets even considering trading their star playmaker is ludicrous..
Every franchise faces a crossroads moment with its young stars. The New York Jets might be approaching theirs with Breece Hall.
According to Josina Anderson, the Jets recently floated the idea of trading their 23-year-old running back.
That rumor didn’t gain much traction publicly, but behind the scenes, it hints at something much bigger brewing.
Hall was a second-round pick just three years ago, and when healthy, he’s shown flashes of star-level production.
Trading him now, before seeing what he can do in a real offense, would be like selling a winning lottery ticket before scratching it.
Breece Hall, Jets
Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Evaluating the numbers behind a quiet year
Hall’s 2024 numbers weren’t eye-popping — 876 rushing yards, five touchdowns, and 4.2 yards per carry.
But those stats don’t tell the full story.
He was running behind a shaky offensive line and within a scheme that rarely maximized his strengths.
Even with limitations, he added 483 receiving yards and three touchdowns as a pass catcher — highlighting his dual-threat value.
There’s no question the Jets underutilized him.
In a better system, Hall could easily be a 1,500-yard all-purpose back. He just hasn’t had the environment to prove it.
Sep 9, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; New York Jets running back Breece Hall (center) carries the ball against San Francisco 49ers linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (left) during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
What would the Jets gain from moving on?
With Hall entering the final year of his rookie deal, the Jets are weighing the cost of a potential extension.
Do they commit to a second contract for a running back — a position often devalued in today’s league?
Or do they move him for draft capital now and reset at the position with a younger, cheaper option?
That’s where Braelon Allen enters the picture.
A fourth-round pick last year, Allen ran for 334 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 3.6 yards per attempt.
He has promise, but he’s not a proven lead back — not yet, anyway.
Losing Hall could stall the offense before it starts
With Justin Fields under center, the Jets are expected to run a ground-heavy offense with a mobile quarterback.
Removing Hall from that equation would put pressure on unproven backs to carry the load immediately.
Allen has tools, but he profiles more as a complementary piece than a workhorse at this stage.
Hall’s ability as a pass catcher makes him invaluable in play-action and screen packages, especially with Fields scrambling.
In short trading him now would create a massive hole for a teamstill finding its offensive identity.
A new coach deserves a clean slate with Hall
Aaron Glenn was brought in to steer the Jets in a new direction — and he deserves the chance to do just that.
Before pulling the plug on Hall, the Jets should give Glenn and his staff a real shot to maximize their talent.
They’ve already mishandled Hall’s development once.
Doing it again could not only waste a rare offensive weapon but also cripple their ability to compete in 2025.
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