Marcus Maye is a reach in deep S class, but gamble could pay off for Jets

In 2016, Marcus Maye went from All-American to afterthought. Now, the former Florida safety will have to prove himself all over again in the NFL.

The New York Jets made him their second-round pick, snapping up the hard-hitting defensive back with the 39th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, and pairing him with first-round pick Jamal Adams.

Maye had been projected to be a mid-round pick after a broken arm ended his 2016 season in mid-November. While he’s proven he has the talent to make plays at the next level, he’ll have be in a young secondary and expected to play alongside another rookie.

Despite All-American bonafides, a senior slump helped make Maye a forgotten man in a secondary that included players like Quincy Wilson and Teez Tabor. While his coverage skills improved, he had less of an impact in the nine games he played last fall; his tackle rate dropped from 6.4 per contest to 5.6. He failed to create any fumbles in 2016 after forcing six the previous two seasons.

That leaves him with plenty to prove now that he’ll be spending his Sundays in New York.

Maye is a versatile safety who made big plays against the pass and the run over his four-year tenure with the Gators. He’s a solid athlete who tested well at Florida’s pro day after missing the Draft Combine, flashing high 4.4-second speed in the 40-yard dash and showcasing smooth hips when it came to agility drills.

That athleticism flashes in his closing speed. Maye explodes toward the ball when runners hit his field of vision, wrapping up well and rarely making mistakes. He’s strong enough to shed blockers and fast enough to chase down tailbacks in the open field. He also has a nose for the ball, creating turnovers with a strong punch as he engages ballcarriers.

Maye is solid in coverage, playing centerfield as a help defender through most of his time with the Gators. He reacts well to passes in front of him, accelerating downhill to make big plays. He can add value in both zone and man coverage and has a solid track record of achievement against some of the FBS’s best teams.

He’s also not a character risk like some of the other defensive backs in the 2017 draft. Maye stayed out of trouble during his Florida career and skipped this year’s draft ceremony in order to attend his graduation in Gainesville.

Maye may have benefited from a star-studded Florida secondary that helped him look better than he actually was. The presence of Tabor and Wilson allowed the Gators to keep their cornerbacks on an island. This was great for Maye, as his proficiency against the run was higher than his pass defense.

Teams looking to throw over the top in the NFL will target Maye until he can prove he can handle the deep ball. He excels when running toward the line of scrimmage to make plays, but can be slow to turn and run and has difficulty tracking passes downfield. Despite his solid play near the line of scrimmage, he gave up 10 passing touchdowns with the Gators.

The Darrelle Revis days are over for the Jets, and that means there’s more value at safety. Without Revis Island, the team needs a pair of safeties and made that the team’s emphasis in the draft.

There have been rumors that Calvin Pryor has been available via trade, and that seems even more likely after the team added a second safety to the mix, with run stopping prowess to boot.