98.5 The Sports Hub staff report
The New England Patriots have their salary cap issues, but wide receiver Marqise Lee certainly isn’t to blame for any of ’em.
Signed by the Patriots last month after spending the first six seasons of his NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Lee’s deal is as low risk a signing as the Patriots could have made in 2020, as confirmed by contract details revealed by the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin.
According to Volin, Lee’s one-year deal with New England is for the veteran minimum. It also comes with just $300,000 guaranteed, and has a cap number of $887,500 should Lee make the team. And at the very most, Lee can make just over $1 million with the Patriots.
But this kind of deal is hardly a shock given Lee’s recent history. Limited to just six games before a shoulder injury ended his 2019, Lee totaled three catches (on four targets) and 18 yards for the Jags. And this was after a torn ACL and MCL ended Lee’s 2018 before it even started. Lee is essentially back to square one as an NFLer.
If healthy and capable, however, Lee could be a strong veteran get for the Patriots. Drafted with the No. 39 overall pick in 2014, Lee had strong campaigns leading up to his knee tear in 2018, including a career-high in catches (63), yards (851), and touchdowns (three) in 2016. Overall, Lee has totaled 174 catches, 2,184 yards, and eight touchdowns in 59 career games, all with Jacksonville.
Lee will certainly have his work cut out for him this camp, however, as he’s among a group of 14 wide receivers currently signed to New England’s 90-man roster entering the 2020 season.
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