Should the NY Jets re-sign or decline safety Marcus Maye?

The NY Jets have a few notable players set to hit free agency this offseason, and perhaps the most high-profile of them all is veteran safety Marcus Maye.

A second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Maye is currently the longest-tenured member of the Jets roster and has long been a staple of the team's secondary.

However, it's safe to say that the two sides have been on better terms, and right now, there's a lot of uncertainty about Maye's future with the organization. Has Maye played his last game with the Jets?

And, perhaps more importantly, should the Jets even want to bring Maye back this offseason? Let's dive in and analyze.

Should the NY Jets re-sign Marcus Maye?

It wasn't long ago that Maye was seen as one of the better safeties in football. In fact, a year ago at this time, Maye was coming off a career year that saw him earn All-Pro votes and he seemed to be on the cusp of a sizable extension.

The Jets opted to place the franchise tag on him and table extension talks for the time being, a decision they ultimately look very wise for in hindsight.

From Maye's ongoing legal situation to his subpar play in 2021 to his Achilles injury, it's hard to think of a player who has tanked his stock as much as he has over the course of the last 12 months.

Instead of receiving the long-term extension he was looking for last offseason, Maye will be lucky to receive anything more than a one-year prove-it contract after everything that's happened.

Will that contract be from the Jets, though?

There is a scenario where Maye does return in 2022. If the Jets strike out on all of their top free-agent targets and Maye's market doesn't really develop, there's an outside chance the two sides could reunite on a one-year, team-friendly contract.

Maye is still a good player, but he's coming off a torn Achilles and is likely to be suspended for the start of the 2022 season, pending his legal situation. He'd be a last resort for the Jets.

Ultimately, it's probably in the best interest of both sides to part ways this offseason. Maye needs a fresh start with a new organization while the Jets will look to upgrade a position that's currently one of the weakest on the roster.

From unheralded team captain to underperforming outcast, Marcus Maye's time with the Jets will likely come to an end this offseason.

Verdict: Decline