The safety contract market just rose, and it could trickle down to the Jets’ negotiations with Marcus Maye this offseason.
The Broncos gave Justin Simmons a four-year, $61 million dollar deal with $35 million in guaranteed money, according to multiple reports. This comes after Denver placed the franchise tag on Simmons for the second consecutive year. Simmons’ $15.25 million annual salary now makes him the highest-paid safety in the NFL.
Before Simmons signed his new deal, the Jets were likely looking at an $11-$12 million annual salary for Maye. But now that Simmons will make more than $15 million a year, Maye has a case for more money. Maye will make $10.612 million on the franchise take this season if he and the Jets can’t agree on a long-term contract by mid-July.
Maye and Simmons’ numbers are relatively similar production-wise. While Simmons has tallied 10 more interceptions and 99 more total tackles in 20 more games, Maye’s per-game averages are almost equal to Simmons’. Maye also finished as the fourth-highest graded safety, according to Pro Football Focus, right behind Simmons.
From Maye’s perspective, it would make sense to ask for around Simmons’ annual salary and go from there. He’s been effective as a four-year starter in New York and thrived in an extended role in the deep secondary this past season. Maye finished with 88 tackles, 11 defended passes and two sacks, all career-highs. He also forced two fumbles and recorded two interceptions. Maye could be even better in Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s defense, which loves to feature safeties.
But Joe Douglas may not want to pay Maye the type of money Simmons is making – especially after rebuking Jamal Adams’ contract demands last year. The franchise tag gave Douglas a few more months to negotiate before having to make a decision, though, and if he and Maye can’t come to an agreement, the Jets will at least have a potential trade chip or a one-year evaluation period in the new defense.
