New York Jets trade Darron Lee to Kansas City Chiefs for 6th round pick
By Matt Conner
The New York Jets have traded linebacker Darron Lee to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2020 sixth round choice, per Adam Schefter.
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a trade with the New York Jets that brings over linebacker Darron Lee in exchange for a 2020 sixth round draft choice, per ESPN reporter Adam Schefter.
Lee entered the NFL as the Jets first round pick in 2016, coming in at No. 20 overall, but he’s failed to live up to his draft billing as the team has shuffled head coaches and defensive schemes. Lee has been on the trade block all offseason and now the Chiefs have finally given him a classic change of scenery deal with whom he can hope to turn around his career.
The Jets are in the midst of serious front office upheaval. Head coach Adam Gase was given the title of interim general manager as well after the team fired GM Mike Maccagnan on Wednesday, a surprise move given the timing of it all since Maccagnagn was just tasked with running the team’s draft and free agency periods.
Lee has started 36 games over the last three years for the Jets, including 12 last season. Lee had 3 interceptions last year to go with 74 total tackles, including five for a loss. He was never quite an ideal fit for the Jets and just last season was given a four game suspension by the NFL for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The Jets moved on already this last year when they declined his fifth year option, which will make him an unrestricted free agent next spring. They cinched the deal by adding C.J. Mosley, formerly with the Baltimore Ravens, on a big money deal.
Lee should compete for reps at weakside linebacker in the Chiefs’ revamped defense.