The LA Chargers surprisingly waived preseason standout AJ Finley to make roster room prior to last week's loss against the Baltimore Ravens. With Finley being claimed off waivers by the Seattle Seahawks, the Chargers were forced to scramble to replace Finley's spot on the active roster.
Thankfully, for reasons that are still unclear, the Miami Dolphins waived veteran safety Marcus Maye with the reported intention of re-signing him to the practice squad. The Chargers didn't let that happen as they claimed the former second-round pick prior to Week 13.
It didn't take long for that decision to pay off and for Maye to make his former team look foolish. In one of the biggest spots of the game with the Falcons on third-and-goal and trailing by four, Maye hauled in a Kirk Cousins moonball for an interception to keep it a four-point game.
welcome to la, marcus maye
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) December 1, 2024
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/Azos8sSToq
Marcus Maye needs just one game to make Chargers looks genius (and Dolphins look foolish)
To be fair, Maye certainly wasn't playing like he was in his prime with the Dolphins. It wasn't like Miami waived one of the best players on the defensive side of the ball without any rhyme or reason.
However, Maye was someone who had a big role on defense and was racking up a fair number of snaps on the defensive side of the ball. And while Pro Football Focus grades are not everything, it is worth noting that Maye had a 71.2 PFF grade prior to being waived.
The Dolphins wanting to keep Maye on the practice squad highlights the value the team saw in him as a veteran defensive back. Unfortunately for them, they played with fire and the Chargers made sure they were burned.
Maye's arrival in Los Angeles could not have come at a better time (like his interception). The Chargers' secondary is currently decimated by injuries and having a veteran who has racked up thousands of NFL snaps in a mostly inexperienced secondary is huge.
The Chargers have been ahead of schedule this season mostly due to the savvy moves general manager Joe Hortiz has made. Claiming Maye, when so many other teams allowed him to pass in waivers, is yet another example of the Chargers' front office being one step ahead of their peers.
Hopefully this is one of several great moments for Maye in the powder blue. If his first game with the Chargers is any indication, this should be a fruitful partnership.