Marcus Maye makes sense as a trade candidate, being on the franchise tag after contentious negotiations this summer. The fifth-year safety also recently revealed a DUI arrest to the team, after not disclosing it after it when it took place in February.
After missing two games, Maye was back on the field after the Jets’ bye week. He is set to return to action in Week 7. Despite Maye’s agent indicating his client would be healthy by the trade deadline, in a clear attempt to generate outside interest, the former Jets second-round pick said he has not issued a trade request.
[RELATED: Assessing Maye’s Trade Value]
“[The Jets] know I want to be here,” Maye said, via the New York Post’s Mark Sanchez. “They know I’m 100% with my guys and teammates and things like that. So, I’m here.”
This certainly does not ensure Maye will be a Jet to close out this season. When asked if he would welcome a trade, Maye responded, “That’s not up to me.” Maye, 28, saw Jamal Adams‘ trade request granted last summer. Adams has since signed a safety-record contract. Maye will be in position to cash in next year, and the Jets are unlikely to pay up to keep him. The current Jets regime did not draft Maye, who would cost $12.7M on a second franchise tag in 2022.
More than $5M in salary remains on Maye’s contract, which stands to affect his trade value. But with the Jets potentially moving on come 2022, it would make sense for the team to consider collecting an asset. Though, they would need to compare any team’s offer with that of a potential 2023 compensatory pick.
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