When the Jets drafted Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye in the first two rounds of the 2017 NFL draft, the idea was that the duo would be the cornerstone of New York’s secondary for a long time.
Four years later, both could be gone.
Joe Douglas shipped Adams out of town over the summer after months of drama surrounding his contract. Maye, meanwhile, could leave on his own accord in free agency this offseason. As Adam Gase said Thursday, Maye is undoubtedly a player the Jets should want to retain. However, after enduring nothing but losing throughout his tenure with New York, Maye could opt to seek greener pastures.
Maye, after being named the Jets’ MVP on Thursday, was asked about his future with the team.
“Any place that I’ve always gone, I want to be there for a long time,” Maye said, per SNY. “You want stability. Everybody wants stability. That conversation, like I said, will be at the end of the year and when that time comes I’ll deal with it more.”
The Jets can definitely provide Maye with stability. They are the only organization he has ever known. With that being said, the Florida product’s comments were not necessarily a commitment to New York. Another team can swoop in and offer Maye what he is seeking with a long-term deal once he hits the open market.
Regardless of where Maye’s mind is at right now, keeping the 27-year-old in the Big Apple should be Douglas’ top priority this offseason. The Jets are weeks away from going through a massive overhaul and a steady veteran presence like Maye is required for such a rebuild.
Maye has been one of the lone bright spots for the Jets this season. Doing what it takes to lock him up with an extension is the perfect way for Douglas to begin the next phase of his quest to get New York back to being a contender.