Can Jets’ other safety make leap to needed ballhawk?

As the Jets get close to training camp, I am going to examine the roster and give you my top 25 players. Each weekday, we will reveal another person on the list, leading right into camp. I am not including rookies on this list because I do not feel it is possible to fully evaluate them before they play a game.
No. 5: Marcus Maye cheap nfl nike jerseys china

Last year’s ranking: Unranked (rookie)

Position: S

Age: 25

How acquired: Selected in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft

Years left on contract: 3 nfl nike jersey cheap

2018 Salary Cap figure: $1.5 million

Looking back at 2017: Maye joined the Jets with less fanfare than fellow safety Jamal Adams last year, but he quickly established himself as a solid piece of the team’s future.

A starter from Day 1, Maye played deep safety more than Adams but was able to play close to the line of scrimmage when needed, too. He had two interceptions, two passes defensed and one forced fumble.cheap nike nfl jersey

Maye started all 16 games before suffering an ankle injury in the final game of the season at New England.

Pro Football Focus did not grade Maye highly, which surprises me. My eyes tell me he is better than how they graded him. He was their 80th-ranked safety out of 89. PFF had him giving up three touchdowns.

Maye was a steady presence in the defensive backfield for the Jets and showed impressive poise for a rookie. He is also a nice complement to Adams, who never stops talking. Maye talks a lot less and provides a counterbalance to Adams.

Outlook for 2018: Maye did not do much this spring as he recovered from a minor ankle surgery he had after the season. The expectation is he will be ready for training camp, but Maye’s health bears watching.cheap nfl nike jersey

Once Maye is healthy, the Jets expect him to take the next step in his progression. They need Maye to be a ballhawk on the back end and start to make more plays. He had two interceptions last year. It would be a positive for the Jets if he could double that this season.cheap nike nfl jerseys wholesale

The Jets feel like their defense, and their secondary, in particular, is a strength of this team. Maye needs to be a big part of that. The combination of Adams and Maye looks like it will be a cornerstone of this organization for a long time.cheap nfl jerseys china nike