NY Jets 'working relentlessly' on a Marcus Maye extension

NY Jets safety Marcus Maye has been the center of various talking points this offseason in regard to his current contract situation. After a career year in 2020, Maye hoped to receive a well-earned extension this offseason.

However, the Jets opted to place the franchise tag on Maye and push extension talks until after the draft. Now that the 2021 NFL Draft has concluded, those talks have seemingly picked up once again.

Head coach Robert Saleh was asked about the status of a potential extension for Maye on Saturday and the former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator expressed support for his standout defensive back.

Saleh supported Maye's desire for a new contract and insisted that the Jets were "working relentlessly" in hopes of working out a long-term deal in the near future.

"We had a really nice discussion and obviously, he and his agent are working with Joe [Douglas] on trying to get his deal done, and hopefully that happens soo. I have a tremendous amount of respect for what [players] are going through. Again, you guys know my philosophy: I think these kids have earned the right to ask for whatever they can, especially when they do things the right way like [Maye] has. Joe and his staff are working relentlessly to get something done."

- Robert Saleh

The NY Jets continue to work on a long-term extension with Marcus Maye

Less than a week after general manager Joe Douglas said that extending Maye was "still a priority" for the team, Saleh has now come out in support of his player and insisted the same thing.

Tensions flared a little just prior to the start of free agency when Maye's agent took to Twitter to express his dissatisfaction with the Jets for placing the franchise tag on his client.

By all accounts, Maye has earned an extension. He's coming off a year in which he was ranked in the top-five at his position by Pro Football Focus and has been an on and off-field leader for the Jets over the past few years.

He's one of the team's most valuable players — of course he wants his extension.

However, from the Jets' perspective, the franchise tag was always the logical and most likely route to take.

The tag number for safeties this year was an incredibly low $10.6 million which is likely less than what Maye would be asking for an on annual basis. The NFL is a business, and it made business sense to place the tag on Maye.

The Jets might have every intention of extending Maye in the near future, perhaps before the start of the 2021 season. Or they could steer clear given that Maye will turn 29-years-old next offseason.

Would the Jets be willing to give out a long-term extension to a 29-year-old safety? Of course, it's more complicated than that. But by no means is it a certainty that the Jets extend Maye — especially if the play of Ashtyn Davis improves in 2021.

This is a situation that bears monitoring over the next few months. For now, all we could do is take the Jets at their word.

And that's that they are doing everything they can to reach a long-term agreement with Marcus Maye.