NY Jets 'can't afford to lose' Marcus Maye next offseason

The NY Jets have an important decision to make with safety Marcus Maye in the near future. Maye is set to play the 2021 season on the franchise tag unless the two sides can work out an extension before the July 15th deadline.

If an extension isn't reached, Maye will play on the franchise tag this season and will be slated to be an unrestricted free agent next offseason.

Brad Gagnon of Bleacher Report recently put together a list of one player every NFL team "can't afford to lose" next offseason and Maye received the nod for the Jets.

It's hard to argue with that notion too.

The NY Jets can't afford to lose Marcus Maye.

Gagnon's rationale was simple. After losing Jamal Adams, the Jets can't afford to lose another star safety — and it's not as if they're exactly strapped for cash either.

"The 2017 second-round pick was PFF's fourth-highest-graded safety last year. He's really grown into a starring role with Jamal Adams gone, and the rebuilding Jets can't afford to lose him just a couple of years after trading Adams to the Seattle Seahawks. The Jets have plenty of money to spend and should try to take care of that business now. He might only become more expensive as the cap climbs in 2021."

- Brad Gagnon

The author does make a good point when discussing what Maye's market value could look like a year from now. 2020 was a career year for Maye who elevated his play from above-average starter to one of the best safeties in the NFL.

Another year of superb play would firmly establish him as one of the top players at his position, meaning that his price tag would likely skyrocket.

With that in mind, the Jets might be better off getting a deal done before this week's deadline. However, on the flip side, perhaps the Jets aren't looking to invest significant cap space into a safety who turns 29-years-old next March.

There are two sides to the equation, but at least publicly, the Jets have expressed a desire to extend Maye this offseason.

Shortly following the 2021 NFL Draft, general manager Joe Douglas insisted that extending Maye before training camp remained a "priority" for the organization.

But with the days dwindling, the hopes of an offseason extension are beginning to fade.

The Jets still have a few days left to make a decision on Maye. But if they can't get a deal done, they risk letting him walk for free next offseason.