New York Jets: Final player evaluations at linebacker

CANTON, OH - AUGUST 06: Kevin Greene, (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CANTON, OH - AUGUST 06: Kevin Greene, (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 29: Inside linebacker Darron Lee (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – OCTOBER 29: Inside linebacker Darron Lee (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Darron Lee

FINAL STATS: 94 TACKLES, 67 SOLO, THREE SACKS, THREE PASSES DEFENDED, TWO FORCED FUMBLES

Darron Lee. Mike Maccagnan loves his prospects from Ohio State, doesn’t he? Can anyone say Devin Smith? To be fair, at least Lee has been on the field for two years. He was the Jets first round selection in the 2016 draft with the 20th overall pick. The idea was for him to add speed at the linebacker position to move in for an aging core of players.

We have learned that one of Maccagnan’s biggest mistakes is the overvaluing of prospects. We all know he did it with Christian Hackenberg. The evidence is starting to pile in that he has done so once again with Darron Lee. That’s not to say he didn’t have a decent year in 2017. He did improve from year one to year two. But it is it to the level of a first round pick?

Lee had his moments this year. From weeks 7-9 he posted a Pro Football Focus grade of at least 78.5 in each game. Previous to that, he hadn’t exceeded a grade of 41.0. In the win over the Bills on Thursday night, Lee posted a grade against the run of 87.1. His overall grade, however, was only a 34.9. That was good for 86th at the position. That is far from a first round pick.

FINAL GRADE: C-