New York Jets: Darron Lee Is Projected Breakout Rookie
New York Jets linebacker Darron Lee landed on ESPN NFL Nation’s breakout rookie list.
The New York Jets came into the offseason with a number of things they wanted to improve on the roster. Near the top of the list was getting younger and more athletic at linebacker. The Jets were looking to get players that could play sideline-to-sideline, pass the rusher or drop back into coverage.
They addressed that need via the NFL Draft, where the Jets loaded up at linebacker. The Jets came away with two players that fit the mold that they were looking for; first round pick Darron Lee out of Ohio State and third round pick Jordan Jenkins out of Georgia.
Both players should see playing time right off the bat for the Jets. Linebacker has a lot of playing time open, as Calvin Pace and Demario Davis were both allowed to leave this offseason as free agents. Pace is still on the market, while Davis signed with the Cleveland Browns. Erin Henderson was retained, but the Jets still needed to add some talent to the unit.
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They would sign veteran Bruce Carter as a free agent, to go with the holders from last season. David Harris will still patrol the middle of the field, while Lorenzo Mauldin will be relied upon as a pass rusher. But, Lee and Jenkins are who the Jets will be relying on to make an impact, with Lee having the spotlight on him as the first round pick.
While Lee may not be a starter right off the bat, he will have a role with the defense. His skill set will allow him to play a number of roles on the defense, as he can blitz the quarterback or drop back in coverage. He is supremely athletic and could fill the hybrid safety/linebacker role that is becoming popular in the NFL; players that are so versatile it is not worth shoehorning them into one spot on the field.
That is what ESPN NFL Nation correspondent Rich Cimini is expecting. Cimini, along with the other NFL Nation correspondents, selected who they believed would be the breakout rookie for each team.
Lee was Cimini’s selection for the Jets, and with good reason. Here is what Cimini had to say about the Jets’ first round draft pick.
"Lee won’t start at inside linebacker in the base 3-4 defense, but he will be an X factor because of his ability to blitz and cover. He can be a hybrid player in sub packages, rushing from the edge or walking out to cover a tight end. The coaches will devise a specialty role for the speedy linebacker, and it’ll be fun to see how it unfolds."
The Jets are excited about what Lee can bring to the table, and rightfully so. He should be making plays right from the start even if he is going to be in only sub packages in the beginning of the season.
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As he becomes more comfortable with the NFL game, he should see his playing time increase as well. Lee is arguably the best athlete the Jets have defensively and it will only be a matter of time until they will want to play him full time.