The Jets placed the franchise tag on safety Marcus Maye, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
This locks Maye into a one-year, fully-guaranteed contract that will pay him an estimated $10.5 million in 2021, per Schefter. More importantly, the tag gives the Jets an extra four months to negotiate a long-term contract extension, something that Joe Douglas said is a priority for him and the team this offseason.
Maye was a revelation in 2020 as the star defensive back after the Jets traded Jamal Adams to Seattle. He was the fourth-highest graded safety, according to Pro Football Focus, and finished with a career-high 88 combined tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
The tag would drop the Jets’ estimated salary cap room to about $66 million, though that number could change once the NFL finalizes the cap number for the 2021 season and if the Jets release more players.
This is the first time the Jets have used the franchise tag since placing it on Muhammad Wilkerson in 2016. Wilkerson ultimately signed a five-year, $85 million deal that included $37 million over the first two years. He did not stay in New York past 2017, though.
