Players under the NFL’s franchise tag have until Thursday at 4 PM ET to sign long-term deals with their respective teams. That deadline is coming fast for the Jets, who, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, have tried “relentlessly” in their pursuit to sign fifth-year safety Marcus Maye to a lucrative extension. However, Maye, who was awarded team MVP in 2020, did not respond to New York’s latest contract proposal (the Jets have since pulled that offer), casting doubt on his future with the organization.
Drafted 39th overall in 2017, the Florida alum enjoyed a breakout season in 2020, contributing 88 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles while grading as PFF’s No. 4 safety behind only Cincinnati’s Jessie Bates, Adrian Amos of the Packers and Rams DB John Johnson III, now of the Cleveland Browns. Though Maye signed his $10.6-million franchise tender in March and was present for last month’s mandatory minicamp in Florham Park, the 28-year-old’s relationship with the team has reportedly deteriorated with Rapoport noting the two parties are “not in a good place.”
The Jets are well-equipped to meet Maye’s quota (he’s believed to be targeting a deal similar to the four-year, $61-million extension Justin Simmons signed with Denver earlier this offseason) with over $25 million in available cap space (third-most), though for whatever reason, GM Joe Douglas seems content to play hardball with his stud safety. If any of this drama feels familiar, that’s probably because the Jets found themselves in an almost identical standoff last summer with disgruntled Pro Bowler Jamal Adams, who was later traded to the Seahawks for a pair of first-round picks (New York also acquired Bradley McDougald and a third-rounder for Adams and a fourth-round selection in 2022).
Along with Maye, franchise-tagged Bears receiver Allen Robinson and Washington guard Brandon Scherff are also unlikely to sign ahead of Thursday’s deadline, with each expected to hit free agency in 2022.
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