NY Jets: 5 players who won't be back in the 2022 season

3. Marcus Maye, S, NY Jets

The writing has been on the ball hinting at Marcus Maye's inevitable departure for quite some time now. And recent developments have really only confirmed what most already knew.

Maye won't be on the Jets roster at the start of the 2022 season. In fact, he might not even make it past the next week.

The standout safety has been embroiled in a contract dispute dating back to the offseason when the Jets placed the franchise tag on him after the two sides couldn't agree on an extension.

Tensions only rose in the summer when the deadline for a long-term deal passed without a new contract. The Jets low-balled Maye with an offer far below market value making their intentions clear.

They never had any intentions of signing Maye to a long-term contract — at least not at his asking price.

The situation has only further deteriorated in recent weeks following Maye's legal troubles stemming from a February DUI arrest that was kept hidden from the NFL and the Jets.

Even if Maye isn't traded at the deadline, which does seem a little unlikely given his hefty salary, it's hard to imagine he sticks around past this offseason.

The Jets could try to tag-and-trade Maye or just let him walk, but it's difficult to envision a scenario where the Jets let Maye play on the franchise tag again in 2022 (at a very high salary) or give in and extend him.

Marcus Maye's days with the NY Jets appear to be numbered.