In 2009, the Bills made linebacker/defensive end Aaron Maybin a first-round pick. After two seasons, the Bills gave up.
The Jets provided Maybin with a second chance. When the time came to trim the roster down to 53 in early September, the Jets gave up.
But the Jets ultimately gave Maybin yet another second chance. And he flourished, picking up six sacks in 13 games.
The Jets plan to use the high restricted free agency tender on Maybin in 2012, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News. As a result, Maybin will be entitled to a one-year salary in the range of $1.3 million, the Jets will have a chance to match any offer Maybin accepts with another team, and the Jets ultimately will be entitled to receive a first-round pick as compensation if the Jets choose to let Maybin walk.
Not bad for a guy who didn’t start a single game last season. And who has only one career start. And who had zero sacks in 27 games before 2011.
UPDATE 3:28 p.m. ET: Mehta has updated his story to explain that the Jets plan to use the “original-round” tender on Maybin, which entails a lower tender than the high tender. Since Maybin originally was drafted in the first round, the Jets can secure first-round compensation for roughly half the price. A review of the convoluted language of the CBA on this point suggests that, indeed, the Jets are able to do this.