The Jets drafted safety Ashtyn Davis with the 68th overall pick, the choice they received from the New York Giants in the Leonard Williams trade. Williams became expendable when the Jets used a high pick last spring on another defensive lineman, Quinnen Williams. This is what happens when a team drafts to a strength. In many cases, someone has to go.
There could be another Leonard Williams situation brewing and, ironically, it's because of the Davis decision. His arrival raises questions about the long-term future of incumbent free safety Marcus Maye, the Jets' 2017 second-round pick who is entering the final year of his contract.
Maye has been a solid player for the Jets, except for his injury-plagued 2018 season, but the economic realities can't be ignored. The Jets are prepared to give a ton of money to Jamal Adams, and they would have one of the league's highest-paid safety tandems if they double down with Maye. There's nothing wrong with that, except they might decide it's better to distribute their resources to other positions. Davis provides leverage and a contingency plan.
It makes no sense to trade Maye before the season -- they're not shopping him -- but it wouldn't be a surprise if they move him before the midseason trade deadline, as they did with Leonard Williams. If they do nothing, the Jets run the risk of losing him as a free agent with no compensation except perhaps a 2022 compensatory pick. It's also worth noting that Maye, 27, is two years older than the typical player nearing the end of his rookie contract.
The Jets really like Davis; they were surprised he was available near the top of the third round in last month's draft. If it weren't for groin surgery last December, he would have blown up the NFL combine, according to some in the scouting community. Senior Bowl executive director and former NFL scout Jim Nagy believes Davis, a former track star at Cal, would have run the 40-yard dash in the high 4.3s or low 4.4s, which he said might have vaulted him into the first round.
"I thought he was the best single-high safety in the draft in terms of range and being able to play in the deep middle of the field," said Nagy, adding that Davis has enough athleticism to play cornerback. "... To me, Ashtyn is an early-career starter, whether it's Year 1 or Year 2. You look at his tape and that dude is a starting safety all day long. I know they have Marcus Maye and Jamal Adams. It'll be interesting to see what [defensive coordinator] Gregg Williams does with him."
The plan is to keep him at safety, which could make Maye the odd man out.
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There could be another Leonard Williams situation brewing and, ironically, it's because of the Davis decision. His arrival raises questions about the long-term future of incumbent free safety Marcus Maye, the Jets' 2017 second-round pick who is entering the final year of his contract.
Maye has been a solid player for the Jets, except for his injury-plagued 2018 season, but the economic realities can't be ignored. The Jets are prepared to give a ton of money to Jamal Adams, and they would have one of the league's highest-paid safety tandems if they double down with Maye. There's nothing wrong with that, except they might decide it's better to distribute their resources to other positions. Davis provides leverage and a contingency plan.
It makes no sense to trade Maye before the season -- they're not shopping him -- but it wouldn't be a surprise if they move him before the midseason trade deadline, as they did with Leonard Williams. If they do nothing, the Jets run the risk of losing him as a free agent with no compensation except perhaps a 2022 compensatory pick. It's also worth noting that Maye, 27, is two years older than the typical player nearing the end of his rookie contract.
The Jets really like Davis; they were surprised he was available near the top of the third round in last month's draft. If it weren't for groin surgery last December, he would have blown up the NFL combine, according to some in the scouting community. Senior Bowl executive director and former NFL scout Jim Nagy believes Davis, a former track star at Cal, would have run the 40-yard dash in the high 4.3s or low 4.4s, which he said might have vaulted him into the first round.
"I thought he was the best single-high safety in the draft in terms of range and being able to play in the deep middle of the field," said Nagy, adding that Davis has enough athleticism to play cornerback. "... To me, Ashtyn is an early-career starter, whether it's Year 1 or Year 2. You look at his tape and that dude is a starting safety all day long. I know they have Marcus Maye and Jamal Adams. It'll be interesting to see what [defensive coordinator] Gregg Williams does with him."
The plan is to keep him at safety, which could make Maye the odd man out.
NFL draft fallout: Safety Marcus Maye has cloudy future with Jets
The Jets' 2017 second-round pick has been a solid player, but the economic realities of that position group can't be ignored.
