The Arizona Cardinals are staring down a critical offseason question: what’s the plan in the backfield?
James Conner, the team’s veteran bruiser and emotional tone-setter, signed a two-year extension back in November of 2024. But just a few weeks later, his season was derailed in Week 3 by a serious foot and ankle injury that required surgery.
Now, the big question isn’t just when he’ll return - it’s how he’ll look when he does. Can he still be the same downhill force who churned out yards after contact and wore down defenses late in games?
Or are we looking at a different version of Conner moving forward?
Before the injury, Conner was the engine of Arizona’s offense. In 2024, he racked up 1,508 scrimmage yards and nine touchdowns on 283 touches across 16 games.
That’s elite-level production, especially in an offense built to lean heavily on the ground game under offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Petzing’s scheme is rooted in physicality and ball control - a throwback approach that fits Arizona’s historical identity.
This is a franchise that’s long embraced the run, with names like O.J. Anderson, Ollie Matson, Larry Centers, and David Johnson etched into Cardinals lore.
But with Conner’s health in question, and rookie backup Trey Benson also dealing with injury concerns, Arizona could be heading into 2026 with some real uncertainty at the position. Benson flashed upside before going down, but it’s still unclear whether he’ll return with the same burst and top-end speed that made him a promising prospect.
That’s why the Cardinals may need to look outside the building - and the upcoming free agency period could offer some intriguing options. There are plenty of capable backs potentially hitting the market, including Super Bowl 60 MVP Kenneth Walker, Travis Etienne, Javonte Williams, Rico Dowdle, and J.K.
Dobbins. But one name stands out above the rest: Breece Hall.
At just 24 years old, Hall is coming off a strong season with the New York Jets, where he started all 16 games and logged 243 carries for 1,065 yards and four touchdowns. He also added 36 receptions for 350 yards and a receiving score, showing off his dual-threat ability. Hall averaged 4.4 yards per carry and converted 57 first downs on the ground - a testament to both his vision and his ability to keep drives alive.
Hall’s physical profile is impressive: 5’11”, 217 pounds, and a verified 4.39 in the 40-yard dash. That speed translates on the field, where he’s a patient yet explosive runner with the ability to hit the hole and accelerate through the second level.
He’s especially effective on off-tackle runs, using his quick first step and lateral agility to find daylight. And while he’s not known as a dominant pass blocker, he’s willing - and that matters.
Durability is always a concern in the NFL, and Hall did suffer an MCL tear as a rookie that ended his first year early. But he bounced back strong and played a full season in 2025, which should ease some of those concerns. And it’s worth noting that Hall comes from strong football bloodlines - his cousin is Roger Craig, the former 49ers great and a newly minted Hall of Famer.
What makes Hall particularly enticing for Arizona is his fit in Petzing’s system. He’s a volume back who thrives with consistent touches, and in the right scheme, he has the potential to be a 1,500-yard rusher.
That’s not just hypothetical - he was the NCAA’s leading rusher in 2020 with 1,572 yards, followed by another 1,472-yard campaign in 2021 at Iowa State. He was a back-to-back Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, a Unanimous All-American, and a two-time First-Team All-Big 12 selection.
If the Cardinals want to steady the ship and double down on their identity as a run-first team, Hall could be the kind of signing that changes the trajectory of the offense. He’s young, explosive, and proven. And with free agency negotiations opening March 9-11 before the official signing period begins March 12, the clock is ticking.
Arizona has a decision to make. Stick with what they have and hope Conner and Benson return to form? Or make a bold move for a back like Hall, who could be the long-term answer in the desert?
Either way, the Cardinals’ ground game - a pillar of their past and present - is once again at the center of their future.