It is time for the New York Jets to pay Marcus Maye

Former Florida Gators safety Marcus Maye was selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft (39th overall) by the New York Jets.

Maye showed Jets fans right away in his rookie season that New York made the right move by drafting him. Maye ended his first season in the NFL with 79 tackles and two interceptions.

His second year in the NFL was tough, as Maye could not shake the injury bug. He played great when he was healthy, but he ended his season on injured reserve after multiple injuries.

Since then, Maye has played and started 32 out of 32 games the last two seasons, compiling 153 tackles, five tackles for a loss, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two sacks, and one fumble recovery.

Maye has shown his fans and team that he is a player they can trust, but the Jets still have not given him the second contract he is looking for. Instead, they franchised tagged Maye before the 2021 season. The Jets only have a few more weeks to agree to a contract extension before Maye will play under the franchise tag.

Marcus Maye deserves a contract extension.

The Jets would be crazy not to extend Maye, as it is not easy to find players like him. New head coach Robert Saleh is looking to build a new culture, and Maye is a leader on and off the field.

Maye can lead by example too, which is what is so great about him. The way he plays the game is contagious, and if the Jets want to get back to winning football games, keeping players like Maye is crucial.

Far too many times, the business side of things gets in the way, but the Jets should not drop the ball here. Failing to reward a player like Maye sets a bad precedent for other players and gives a bad vibe to the fan base.

The former Gator isn’t unreasonable for wanting to get paid either, as again, he has earned a new contract. The Jets have a unique opportunity to show that this is a new era in New York, or they can show that it is the same circus it has always been.

Giving Maye a contract extension or making him play on the franchise tag just to lose him in free agency will forecast the direction of the Jets. With that in mind, it is time for the Jets to pay one of their best players.