DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans suffered a loss that they never fully recovered from during the 2025 season: Joe Mixon. A two-time Pro Bowler and dual-threat, Mixon was supposed to be a focal point of the Texans’ offseason.
With a new offensive system and a third-year quarterback in C.J. Stroud playing behind a rebuilt offensive line, the running game would have been a welcome crutch, but it never took off.
This offseason, the Texans could match speculation with reality, specifically with Breece Hall.
Texans ‘Prediction’ Lands Breece Hall in Houston
GettyBreece Hall #20 of the Houston Texans reacts against the Dallas Cowboys.
ESPN’s DJ Bien-Aime wrote that the Texans’ “top priority” this offseason is addressing their ground attack. Bien-Aime cited the contributions of rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks. He was “second on the team” with 911 yards from scrimmage.”
However, the reporter also noted, “Houston can add another player to elevate the attack.”
“Schematically, Houston’s run game has the bones to be a strong down-the-middle attack,” Bien-Aime wrote in an article from January 22. “But the Texans ranked only 24th in yards per game (107) and tied for 29th in yards per carry (3.9). So, they need to improve the interior of the offensive line and probably add one more back.”
Enter Hall, who ESPN’s Aaron Schatz linked to the Texans in a “big prediction” for their offseason plans.
“I’ve heard plenty of potential new homes for running back Breece Hall, but never Houston,” Schatz wrote in the same article. “Mixon’s career might be over after he missed the 2025 season because of a foot injury, and Marks looks more suited as a rotation player than lead back. The Texans need a strong running game to eat clock and complement their ferocious defense.”
Hall, 24, was the No. 36 overall pick of the 2022 draft by the New York Jets. He is coming off a career-high 1,065 rushing yards in 2025. Hall added 4 rushing touchdowns and had a 36-reception, 350-yard, 1-TD season as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
In that sense, Hall would address the Texans’ next biggest priority, according to Bien-Aime. That is ensuring Stroud has enough playmakers to throw to.
While not a receiver, Has has had over 1,300 total yards from scrimmage three straight years.
Texans Were Viewed as Possible Landing Spot for Breece Hall
GettyBreece Hall #20 of the New York Jets looks on before a game against the Carolina Panthers.
Schatz questioned the lack of speculation connecting the Texans to Hall. However, the Texans were viewed as a realistic potential destination for the pending Jets free agent. That was before the 2025 trade deadline.
ESPN’s Dan Graziano listed the Texans among the teams that “I expect” to show an interest in Hall before the deadline passed in an article from October 2025.
The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander also reported the Texans called about Hall.
“It’s unclear how far conversations between [Nick] Caserio and Jets general manager Darren Mougey reached, or whether the parameters of a deal were discussed,” Alexander wrote in November 2025. “But the Jets … were unwilling to compromise for anything less than a third-round pick, another person with knowledge of the talks confirmed.”
Caserio left Mixon’s future in the NFL, much less with the organization, in doubt with his recent comments. Caserio, Ryans, and the Texans can avoid the middleman this offseason with Hall heading for free agency. That is, if they still have an interest.
The Texans are expected to let Nick Chubb walk, and they still have 2024 sixth-round pick Jawhar Jordan on the roster.
Still, Hall is a proven option that Ryans and the Texans could bank on.
Texans Get ‘Big Prediction’ After Moving on Former Jets Draft Pick