Darron

Lee

Lee flamed out with the Jets after three years and was subsequently traded to Kansas City. He played in all 16 games for the Chiefs in 2019 but was primarily used on special teams. He was signed to Buffalo’s practice squad in 2020 and appeared in two games. If Lee can crack the Raiders’ roster, he’ll be used as a special teams contributor once again. Las Vegas waived TJ Morrison in a corresponding move.

The violation is unclear. Lee was previously suspended four games for PED use. The No. 20 overall pick of the 2016 draft is still only 25 years old, but another ban will have his NFL future in question. Lee barely played for the 2019 Super Bowl champion Chiefs, though he did remain on the 53-man roster all season.

The 2016 first-rounder was sent packing to Kansas City in Adam Gase’s first transaction as interim GM. Although Lee’s been a perennial bust since initially joining the Jets, he’s still just 25 and now joins DE Frank Clark, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, and S Tyrann Mathieu among standout additions the Chiefs acquired to shore up their defense after parting with Dee Ford and Justin Houston this offseason. Lee’s currently due a $3.2 million cap hit in 2019.

It’s just a formality as Lee has been on the trade block since the Jets broke the bank for C.J. Mosley in free agency. Lee has been a relative bust since arriving as a first-round pick in 2016, though he’s still just 25 and could probably benefit from a change of scenery. He’ll cost $3.2 million against the cap in 2019.

The Jets tried and failed to trade Lee during the draft. Lee became extraneous after the Jets cracked open the vault for C.J. Mosley in free agency. Going on 25, Lee has never been a difference maker, but he was not an embarrassment in 2018. If they don’t trade him this summer, the Jets could keep Lee as a valuable piece of depth.

The Jets didn’t find any takers for Lee the first two days of the draft. With only two picks on Day 3, they could move Lee to improve their draft capital. Lee became expendable when the Jets signed C.J. Mosley, but he’s cheap ($1.8M salary) and coming off his best year as a pro. There should be a late-round market for Lee.

Lee’s roster spot is in question after the Jets signed C.J. Mosley to a big deal in free agency, so it makes sense for him to stay away from the team until the situation is resolved. That could happen this weekend during the draft. Coming off his best season as a pro, Lee should draw interest if the Jets make him available.

Lee is reportedly on the trade block after the Jets signed C.J. Mosley in free agency, but he will still show up for voluntary offseason work. Lee showed signs of improvement last year and is owed $1.8 million this season. He should draw interest if he is really on the block.

Despite showing signs of improvement last year, Lee hasn’t delivered on his first-round promise and appears to be on the outs in East Rutherford. The Jets don’t have much use for Lee after paying up for C.J. Mosley in free agency and should be motivated to move him before the regular season starts. It would be a stunner if the Jets picked up Lee’s fifth-year option for 2020, which would have to be exercised by May 3.

The Jets selected Lee and Christian Hackenberg with their first two picks in the 2016 draft. Lee has not been the colossal failure Hackenberg was, but he was a considerably below-average starter his first two seasons and finished last year on the suspended list because of a PED violation. It sounds like the Jets are ready to wash their hands of the situation, and that will happen if they can find a linebacker in free agency. Barring the Jets surprisingly picking up his fifth-year option, Lee is entering the final year of his rookie deal.