Every consistently solid NFL franchise does a good job retaining talent, whether it’s homegrown, acquired on the trade market, or signed via free agency. It doesn’t matter; locking up valuable players is crucial to sustaining success in the league.

On Monday, the New York Jets’ crosstown rivals, the Giants, did just that, signing cornerback Greg Newsome to a three-year, $46 million contract extension.

Newsome wasn’t a homegrown top draft pick. The 26-year-old was signed this offseason on a one-year, $8 million prove-it contract. Eight games through the year, he outplayed expectations, hence the extension.

While the Jets’ 2-6 record isn’t nearly as attractive as the Giants’ 4-2-1 start, they should do the same with former Giants safety Dane Belton, also signed to a prove-it deal this offseason.

Jets should extend Belton right now

This offseason, the Jets signed Belton, a former Giants fourth-round pick, to a one-year, $4 million deal with just $2 million in guaranteed money. It looked like a savvy move at the time, and it has aged even better.

In eight games this season, Belton has more than outplayed that contract. He currently ranks fourth among safeties in stops (18), and his 90.4 run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus leads his position. Belton has been serviceable in coverage, and alongside Fitzpatrick, the Jets have formed one of the league’s better safety duos this year.

The Jets should do everything they can to keep the pairing together. Fitzpatrick signed a three-year contract this offseason right after being acquired, meaning the 29-year-old is locked up through the 2028 season. Belton, meanwhile, is still scheduled to become a free agent this offseason.

At this point, with the Jets at 2-6 and the hopes of a competitive season gone, development should come to the forefront. Part of development is identifying building blocks on both offense and defense and seeing who should stay beyond this year.

So far, Belton has proven he belongs in the Jets’ future plans. Aside from the promising production, he is still just 25 years old.

Last year, the Jets extended Josh Myers and Jeremy Ruckert in-season. The team should follow a similar mold with Belton this year; the Giants’ decision on Newsome should only reinforce the idea.

Well-run organizations reward players who come in and exceed expectations. Belton has done that, and then some. The good news is that, unlike Joe Douglas and Mike Maccagnan, Darren Mougey has established a reputation for extending his talent, whether that’s in the offseason or during the year, as we saw with Ruckert and Myers a season ago.

Right now, Mougey’s next goal should be to work out a multi-year extension with Belton. Since entering the building, Belton has been everything the Jets could possibly ask for from a player who signed a deal with just $2 million in guarantees this offseason.

Belton has held up his end of the bargain, and now Gang Green should do the same.