A pair of NFC leaders are reportedly interested in Maye’s services
The Marcus Maye rollercoaster could be approaching another hill.
Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the New York Jets safety would “welcome” a trade to a contender at the upcoming deal deadline on Nov. 2.
Fowler’s report indicates that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams could be interested in inquiring about Maye’s services. Many have pegged Tampa Bay and Los Angeles as the top contenders in the NFC.
Though Fowler says it’s not clear whether Maye’s February DUI arrest could play a factor in the Jets (1-4) wishing to ship him elsewhere, he indicates that a move could be mutually beneficial for both sides.
New York would unload over $10 million in cap space if they were to shift away from the franchise tag deal Maye is playing on.
Meanwhile, Maye is reportedly disillusioned with the direction the Jets’ defensive financials is taking, one that he placed a heightened focus on the front seven.
To Maye’s reported point, the Jets recently bestowed a guaranteed $30 million to defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers through a four-year extension. Maye, like Jamal Adams before him, is said to be seeking a long-term deal that would make him one of the highest-paid safeties in football.
Adams was eventually traded to Seattle in a deal that netted two first-round picks.
“(Jets general manager) Joe Douglas doesn’t prioritize safety like he does offensive and defensive line, and that showed in negotiations,” Fowler writes. “Maye felt undervalued.”
Maye has earned 23 tackles, including one sack, over three games this season, having missed the last two due to an ankle. The reported desire to move on from New York comes weeks after his agent Erik Burkhardt took to Twitter to curiously assure readers that his client would be healthy by the aforementioned deadline.
The Jets are currently in the midst of their bye week and will return to action on Oct. 24 against the New England Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags
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Trade Marcus Maye to Cleveland for linebacker J.O.K and 5th rd.pk. Don’t take Cleveland ‘s dead wood TE’s. OR Any team making the playoffs, get their 1st rd. pk.