Darron Lee

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Darron Lee
refer to caption
Lee with the Jets in 2016
No. 52
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1994-10-18) October 18, 1994 (age 29)
Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:232 lb (105 kg)
Career information
High school:New Albany
(New Albany, Ohio)
College:Ohio State (2013–2015)
NFL draft:2016 / Round: 1 / Pick: 20
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:
4
Forced fumbles:2
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Darron Lee (born October 18, 1994) is a former

2016 NFL Draft. He was also a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Las Vegas Raiders
.

Early years

Originally from

interceptions
.

Lee also competed for both the Eagles’ indoor and outdoor

100 meters with a personal-best time of 11.06 seconds at the Central District III Meet.[4]

Lee was rated by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit. He was also rated the 29th-best safety in the nation and received four-star status from Scout.com, while ESPN rated him the 28th-best overall player in the state of Ohio.[5] On May 26, Lee committed to Ohio State University to play college football.[6][7]

College career

Lee played in two games as a

tackles and two sacks.[11][12]

Professional career

Pre-draft

On January 2, 2016, Lee announced his decision to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the

2016 NFL Draft through a statement released via Twitter.[13] Prior to the NFL Combine, the majority of NFL draft experts and scouts projected Lee to be a mid-to-late first round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.[14][15]
short shuttle, and finished fifth among linebackers in the vertical jump.[17] His time of 4.43s in the 40-yard dash was the fastest 40 time by a linebacker in nine years and was also better than Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott and wide receiver Braxton Miller. Lee's 11’1” broad jump was the third best performance by a linebacker since 2006.[18]

External videos
video icon Darron Lee’s NFL Combine Workout
video icon Darron Lee runs the 40-yard dash
video icon Darron Lee at Ohio State’Pro Day

On March 11, 2016, Lee participated at Ohio State’s

pro day, but opted to stand on his combine numbers and only performed positional drills. He attended pre-draft visits with multiple teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, New York Jets, and Minnesota Vikings.[19][20] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Lee was projected to be a first round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was ranked as the second best outside linebacker prospect in the draft by DraftScout.com, was ranked the third best linebacker by NFL analyst Mike Mayock, and was ranked the fourth best linebacker in the draft by Sports Illustrated, NFL analyst Bucky Brooks, and ESPN.[21][22][23][24]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split
20-yard shuttle
 Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
Wonderlic
6 ft 0+3⁄4 in
(1.85 m) 		232 lb
(105 kg) 		33+1⁄4 in
(0.84 m) 		9+3⁄4 in
(0.25 m)		 4.47 s 1.55 s 2.60 s 4.20 s 7.12 s 35.5 in
(0.90 m)		 11 ft 1 in
(3.38 m)		 17 reps 31
All values from
NFL Combine[25][26][27]

New York Jets

2016

The Jets selected Lee in the first round (20th overall) of the 2016 NFL Draft.[28] Lee was the second linebacker drafted in 2016, behind Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (9th overall).[29] On July 27, 2016, the Jets signed Lee to a four-year, $10.22 million contract that includes $7.92 million guaranteed and a signing bonus of $5.63 million.[30]

External videos
video icon Jets draft Darron Lee 20th overall
video icon First Draft: Ohio State LB Darron Lee

Throughout training camp, Lee competed to be a starting inside linebacker against established veteran Erin Henderson.[31] Head coach Todd Bowles named Lee a backup inside linebacker to begin the regular season, behind starters David Harris and Erin Henderson.[32]

He made his professional regular season debut in the Jets’ season-opener against the Cincinnati Bengals and recorded six combined tackles in their 23–22 loss. Lee received more snaps (36) than starting inside linebacker Erin Henderson (21) in the season-opener, although head coach Todd Bowles maintained that Lee would remain a backup.[33] The following week, Lee earned his first career start after Erin Henderson sustained a foot injury.[34] Lee finished the Jets’ 37–31 win at the Bills with five combined tackles in Week 2. On September 25, 2016, Lee recorded six combined tackles and was credited with half a sack during a 24–3 loss at the Kansas City Chiefs in a Week 3. In Week 6, Lee suffered an ankle injury during the Jets’ 28–3 loss at the Arizona Cardinals and was inactive for the next three games (Weeks 7–9).[35] In Week 12, Lee collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (five solo) and broke up a pass during a 22–17 loss to the New England Patriots.[36] He finished his rookie season in 2016 with 73 combined tackles (45 solo), three pass deflections, and one sack in 13 games and nine starts.[37] Lee started six consecutive games to end the season after Erin Henderson was placed on the Non-Football Injury list on October 22, 2016, and remained inactive for the remainder of the season.[38] Lee received an overall grade of 38.8 from Pro Football Focus and was the lowest graded rookie linebacker in the league due to his inability to handle pass coverage.[39]

2017

Lee entered training camp slated as a starting inside linebacker after the Jets opted not to re-sign Erin Henderson. Head coach Todd Bowles named Lee and Demario Davis the starting inside linebackers to begin the regular season, alongside outside linebackers Jordan Jenkins and Josh Martin.[40]

He started in the Jets’ season-opener at the Bills and recorded ten combined tackles (seven solo), one pass deflection, and made his first career solo sack during a 21–12 loss. Lee made his first solo sack on Bills’ quarterback Tyrod Taylor in the first quarter.[41] During the game, he was penalized for a late hit on Bills’ center Eric Wood and was subsequently fined $9,115 and also received a fine of $36,464 for a roughing the passer penalty on Dolphins’ quarterback Jay Cutler. In Week 7, he collected a season-high 11 combined tackles (nine solo) during a 31–28 loss at the Miami Dolphins. On December 3, 2017, Lee was suspended by head coach Todd Bowles for one-game for being late to practice. He was suspended for the Jets’ Week 13 victory at the Chiefs.[42] Lee's second season was marred by fines, which totaled $72,965. He received two fines for roughing the passer penalties that were both on Jay Cutler against the Dolphins and also received a fine for an excessive face mask and a late hit.[43] He finished the season with 94 combined tackles (67 solo), three pass deflections, and three sacks in 15 games and 15 starts.[37] Pro Football Focus gave Lee an overall grade of 34.9 in 2017 and ranked 87th out of 88 qualifying linebackers.[44][45]

2018

Lee entered camp as a starting inside linebacker and was named the starter to begin the regular season. He began the season alongside Avery Williamson and starting outside linebackers Josh Martin and Jordan Jenkins.[46]

He started in the Jets’ season-opener at the Detroit Lions and recorded seven combined tackles, a career-high three pass deflections, made two interceptions, and returned one for his first career touchdown in during their 48–17 victory. Lee made his first career interception off a pass attempt by Lions’ quarterback Matthew Stafford, that was originally intended for running back Theo Riddick, and returned it for a 36-yard touchdown in the third quarter.[47] On December 7, Lee was suspended four games due to a PED violation.[48]

2019

On May 3, 2019, the Jets declined the fifth-year option on Lee's contract, making him a free agent in 2020.[49]

Kansas City Chiefs

On May 15, 2019, the Jets traded Lee to the Chiefs for a 2020 sixth round draft pick.[50] Lee was a member of the Super Bowl LIV winning Chiefs, who defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31–20, though he was inactive for the game itself.[51]

After becoming a free agent in March 2020, Lee was suspended for the first four weeks of the 2020 NFL season on September 10, 2020.[52] He was reinstated from suspension on October 6, 2020.[53]

Buffalo Bills

On November 2, 2020, Lee was signed to the Bills practice squad.[54] He was elevated to the active roster on November 14 and November 28 for the team's weeks 10 and 12 games against the Cardinals and Los Angeles Chargers, and reverted to the practice squad after each game.[55][56] His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on February 1, 2021.[57]

Las Vegas Raiders

On June 17, 2021, Lee signed with the

injured reserve on August 24, 2021.[59]
He was released on August 30.

Personal life

On June 4, 2017, Lee was involved in a verbal altercation with a woman at the Governors Ball Music Festival on Randall's Island. Leonard Williams had pulled Lee away from the fracas, and restrained him.[60][61] On June 26, 2023, an arrest warrant was issued for Lee when he didn't show up for a court appearance.[62]

References

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  2. ^ "District Running Event Prelims - Track & Field Meet". Athletic.net.
  3. ^ "Stingel Invitational - Track & Field Meet". Athletic.net.
  4. ^ "Central District 3 D1 Finals - Track & Field Meet". Athletic.net.
  5. ^ "Rivals".
  6. ^ "Darron Lee commits to Buckeyes". ESPN.com. June 26, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  7. ^ Bill Rabinowitz. "Ohio State football: New Albany's Lee commits to 2013 class". Buckeye Xtra Sports.
  8. ^ Bill Rabinowitz. "Ohio State football: Darron Lee makes big first impression as starter". Buckeye Xtra Sports.
  9. ^ Tim May. "Ohio State football: Darron Lee up to speed at new linebacker position". Buckeye Xtra Sports.
  10. ^ Buckeyes’ Lee finds home at linebacker Archived May 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ "Buckeyes hit the jackpot with Darron Lee". ESPN.com. January 5, 2015.
  12. ^ David Jablonski - Staff Writer. "Hard work pays off for Sugar Bowl MVP Lee".
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  14. ^ Brooks, Bucky (February 22, 2016). "Mock draft 2.0: Texans pluck QB Wentz". NFL.com. Retrieved February 29, 2016.
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  17. ^ Stites, Adam (February 28, 2016). "2016 NFL Combine results: Ohio State's Darron Lee blows away the field". SBNation.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  18. ^ "NFL Combine 2016: Ohio State's Darron Lee, with 4.43 40, blazes path as modern NFL linebacker". Cleveland.com. February 29, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
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  32. ^ "New York Jets 2016 Final 53 Man Roster". ganggreennation.com. September 3, 2016. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
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  34. ^ Waszak, Dennis (September 16, 2016). "Jets' Brandon Marshall "fine" after scary-looking knee twist". APNews.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  35. ^ Rapp, Timothy. "Darron Lee Injury: Updates on Jets LB's Ankle and Return". bleacherreport.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  36. ^ "NFL Player stats: Darron Lee (2016)". NFL.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  37. ^ a b "NFL Player stats: Darron Lee (Career)". NFL.com. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
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  50. ^ Gordon, Grant (May 15, 2019). "Gase's 1st move: Jets trade LB Darron Lee to Chiefs". NFL.com. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
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  60. ^ "Darron Lee reportedly in altercation at music fest". NY Post. June 4, 2017. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  61. ^ Cimini, Rich (June 6, 2017). "NFL investigating incident involving Jets' Darron Lee, Leonard Williams". ABC News. NFL. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  62. ^ Wise, John P. (June 26, 2023). "Arrest warrant issued for former OSU football star". ABC6. Retrieved June 23, 2023.

External links

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