The Miami Dolphins cut Marcus Maye after 11 games, and he could reunite with the New Orleans Saints. Primarily playing in a depth role, the eight-year veteran finished his Dolphins tenure with 30 tackles, one pass defended, one tackle-for-loss, and a respectable 70.5 PFF grade, the 21st-best mark out of 89 eligible players. Ultimately, the free agent signee had a solid season, but the Dolphins had to make room for the recently activated safety Patrick McMorris. Barry Jackson of the Maimi Herald reports he could return to the practice squad, but other teams could be willing to give him a real spot on the roster.
A second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Maye is on the older side but can still play at a reasonably high level. The veteran is subject to waivers, which means the Saints could get him for the remainder of the season at a reasonable price. However, they won’t be the only teams interested in his services, as the Carolina Panthers have a worse record and could steal the former second-round pick for themselves.
Panthers, Saints Could Target Marcus Maye After Unceremonious Cut
At 4-7, the New Orleans Saints are mathematically alive in the playoff race but must win out to have any shot at the postseason. Interim head coach Darren Rizzi is getting the most out of his team, as the Saints are 2-0 under his rule. This team has the talent to compete when healthy, but injuries have decimated this roster. With Paulson Adebo done for the season, cornerback Marshon Lattimore on the Washington Commanders, and safety Tyrann Mathieu playing hurt, New Orleans could try and solidify their secondary with an old friend.
The Saints cut Marcus Maye in the offseason, but they only did that because of money. As is custom under General Manager Mickey Loomis, the team had to make drastic moves to get under the 2024 salary cap. Now playing on a one-year, $1.37 million contract with most of the money already paid, New Orleans could easily afford to bring him back and plug him into the defense. Allen might be gone, but the rest of the coaching staff is still here and should know how to get the most out of the veteran.
Diamonds in the Rough
The Carolina Panthers are out of the playoff race, but that doesn’t mean they’re giving up on the 2024 season. For the first time since the Cam Newton Era, the Panthers have hope for the future. The team has a strong offensive line, some young offensive weapons, and Bryce Young is showing some signs of life. First-year head coach Dave Canales and Dan Morgan spent the offseason building the offense, and the returns are promising. Now it’s time to turn the focus to the defense, which has been one of the league’s worst units throughout the season.
The Panthers have one of the worst secondaries in football, and the team has continuously tried to find diamonds in the rough throughout the season. Whether it was claiming three cornerbacks before Week 1 or going after Akayleb Evans earlier this week, the team wants to fix their secondary. Marcus Maye might not be a long-term solution at safety, but the recently cut defensive back will be a free agent at the end of the season. Carolina can use the remainder of the season as a glorified audition to see if he’s worthy of a short-term deal in 2025.
Main Photo: Tina MacIntyre – USA Today Sports
