Jets Select Marcus Maye: Here's What You Need To Know

Introduction

I'm sure a few fans raised their eyebrows when Marcus Maye was announced with the 2nd round pick last night, especially with Dalvin Cook still on the board. However personally I'm pretty excited that we now have a safety partnership who can develop together for the next few years. A duo of Marcus Maye and Jamal Adams sets the Jets up at the position for years to come and with us needing to fill so many holes, I like this strategy.

Maye, like Adams is a safety who can play back in coverage and play up at the line, they're interchangeable, which may enable the Jets to disguise their coverages a little better. When you have two safeties who can both play in the box, who can both play in CF and who can both cover the slot, you have a lot of options.

Maye did break his arm during his senior season which resulted in him missing the final 4 games, but throughout his time in Florida he has been largely durable while being incredibly consistent. He was able to work out at Florida's pro day showing he was healthy and ready to go.

His 2015 season was the most productive as he earned First Team All-American honours while playing in the same secondary as Vernon Hargreaves and Keanu Neal.

Strengths & Weaknesses

Positives

• Great leadership qualities, highly respected at Florida
• Versatility, can play multiple roles as a safety.
• High character guy who won't be a problem off-field.
• Plus instincts in coverage
• Has good speed and range
• Constantly gets a good jump on the ball.
• Loves the physicality of the tackle, willing to put his body on the line.
• Good size and strength for the position
• Only had one missed tackle last year, effective last line defender
• Doesn't allow many completions. Allowed one TD last year.

Negatives

• Not always the most comfortable guy tracking the ball deep.
• Change of direction is a little choppy
• Has the speed but can get twisted around and lose momentum.
• Sometimes loses his man when tracking the ball.

College Stats

2016 - 50 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 5 pass defenses

2015 - 77 tackles, 1.0 for a loss, 2 interceptions, 4 forced fumbles, 6PD

2014 - 62 tackles, 3.0 for a loss, 1 interception, 2 forced fumbles, 5 PD

2013 - 16 tackles, 1.0 for a loss, 1 interception

How he fits with the Jets?

I touched on this in the introduction, but I just see this as a great opportunity to have two starting safeties who can switch up positions and disguise their coverages with who's dropping, who's rushing and who's playing in the box. I know some will argue that neither guy is a true ball-hawking CF, but I think having two guys who can do it all is going to be a very effective strategy. He's got good football speed and nice range, and he's an excellent tackler. When you throw in his leadership, I'll take that every single day.

Marcus Maye and Jamal Adams....now that is a safety tandem if I ever saw one. You know I love my safeties, so I'm practically giddy about the fact I'll get to see both of these guys grow over the coming years.

Highlights