Report: Jets, First-Round Pick Lee Agree To Terms
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The Jets will open training camp Thursday with all their rookies under contract.
The team has agreed to terms with first-round draft pick Darron Lee, ESPN reported Wednesday. The four-year deal is believed to be worth $10.2 million.
The Jets selected Lee, a linebacker out of Ohio State, with the 20th overall pick in April's draft. He joins a defense that ranked fourth in the NFL last season.
As an aggressive, explosive outside linebacker, Lee had 12 sacks in two seasons with the Buckeyes. Jets coach Todd Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan, however, have characterized the 6-foot-2, 232-pounder as an inside linebacker who could play multiple spots on the defense.
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Bowles said after the draft that Lee, who ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.47 seconds at the NFL Combine, will play immediately in the team's nickel defense and back up Erin Henderson at inside linebacker to start off, but could also be effective outside down the line.
The Jets signed their other six draft picks before May 13. Lee remained one of the last three remaining first-round picks to sign a contract.
While the amount of money is slotted for draft picks, the hang-up on the deal was the default language in the guarantees the Jets were looking for and the guaranteed percentage Lee's representatives wanted. Lee ended up getting the full four years guaranteed, as desired, but New York can recoup some of that money if the linebacker is cut at any point for non-football reasons.
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