5 teams that could trade for Jets S Marcus Maye
Marcus Maye’s ankle injury likely won’t be enough to cause teams to shy away from showing interest from him at this year’s trade deadline.
With Maye set to hit free agency after failed contract negotiations with the Jets and New York off to an 0-3 start, the veteran safety is a prime trade candidate for a contender or fringe contender in need of help in the secondary.
As Maye’s agent pointed out after news of his ankle injury broke, the 28-year-old will be good to go once the Nov. 2 deadline rolls around. Here are five teams that could push to acquire Maye before or on deadline day.
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The Cowboys are the clear favorite to win the NFC East with Washington off to an underwhelming start and the Eagles and Giants nowhere near ready to seriously contend. Claiming a division title is not enough for Dallas, though, as it has Super Bowl aspirations on a yearly basis. Maye could be a piece that helps get the Cowboys back to the top. He would certainly be a big help for Dan Quinn’s secondary, which currently ranks 30th against the pass.
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The Panthers have become the Jets of the south with Robby Anderson and Sam Darnold now calling Carolina home. Another former Jets teammate could potentially join them in the NFC South at the trade deadline, as the Panthers have holes to fill in their banged-up secondary. Adding a player like Maye could be the difference between Carolina sustaining its hot start to the season and slowly fading out of the playoff picture.
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The Ravens have not fared well defending the pass despite their 2-1 start, ranking 29th with 944 passing yards allowed through three games. Maye is the kind of veteran Baltimore would benefit from having anchor its secondary as it gears up for another deep postseason run — especially with star cornerback and emotional leader Marcus Peters out for the season. Could Joe Douglas swing a deal with his former employer?
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Are the Raiders finally for real? The answer to that question could be determined by whether Las Vegas makes a move to upgrade its secondary. Trading for Maye could help John Gruden’s team avoid the kind of second-half swoon that has kept it out of the postseason the last two years after looking like a serious contender in the first half of the season.
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The defending Super Bowl champions are in a tough spot with their secondary due to injuries right now. Maye would give star in the making Antoine Winfield Jr. a worthy partner on the back end of the secondary. He would also help alleviate the cornerback woes the Buccaneers are currently dealing with and is already well-versed in Todd Bowles’ defense. It wouldn’t take much for Maye to thrive in Tampa Bay.
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