Saints safety Marcus Maye was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football reports (on Twitter).
Maye signed a three-year, $22.5M deal with the Saints this offseason. This arrest, however, marks his second in as many years. Ahead of his final Jets season, Maye was arrested for DUI. Thursday’s arrest could have a considerable impact on Maye’s NFL future.
The Saints are moving to a new safety duo this year, having signed Maye to team with New Orleans native Tyrann Mathieu. The veterans are replacing Malcolm Jenkins, who retired, and Marcus Williams, who signed with the Ravens. Maye’s path toward doing so could become complicated.
Maye, 29, did well to cash in despite suffering a torn Achilles tendon in 2021. The Jets kept him off the market via the franchise tag last year, but the sides did not come to an extension agreement. The former second-round pick scored $14.5M in guarantees from the Saints. Those guarantees would be vulnerable should the NFL suspend Maye under the personal conduct policy.
New Orleans’ secondary came into the week as one of the NFL’s deepest. The team was confident enough in this group to trade away promising slot cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who will move to safety with the Eagles.
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