Darron Lee’s writing was on the wall when the Jets signed C.J. Mosley as their big-ticket free agent.
New York officially declined its fifth-year option on the fourth-year linebacker out of the Ohio State University, according to the New York Post’s Brian Costello.
The Jets spent on the inside linebacker position for the second consecutive offseason. Lee’s future was already in doubt after losing his starting job; now he doesn’t have a future with the team beyond this season.
Lee was supposed to be playing the Deone Buchanan role in Todd Bowles’ defense as an undersized, inside linebacker. However, his inconsistent play never matched his draft slot as the No. 20 overall pick in the 2015 draft.
The 2018 season might have been his best season, as he was finally coming into his own as a plus tackler and solid in coverage. During the Jets season opener in 2018, Lee recorded seven combined tackles, a career-high three pass deflections, made two interceptions and returned one for his first career touchdown.
His season ended with a four-game suspension for illegal use of performance-enhancing drugs. Lee totaled 74 tackles, five tackles for a loss, five passes defended and three interceptions in 12 games for the Jets.
Avery Williamson’s emergence and the Jets’ surprise pursuit of Mosley has put Lee’s carer with the Jets up in the air. New York had put him on the trading block but was unable to strike a deal during the draft.
With the Jets already having depth at the position in Neville Hewitt, Blake Cashman, Harvey Langi and Anthony Wint, Lee may not even stick around in 2019 now that his option has been declined.
Lee is another blemish on Mike Maccagnan’s drafting record and it doesn’t exactly bode well that a top-20 draft pick will be looking for another team after his rookie contract.
