The Patriots are signing wide receiver Marqise Lee, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). He’ll ink a one-year deal as he moves on to a new team in the AFC after spending the first six years of his career with the Jaguars, who released him several days ago.
New England, of course, lacked its usual offensive firepower in 2019, with veteran wideout Julian Edelman representing the team’s only reliable weapon for former QB Tom Brady. The Pats rode to the playoffs on the strength of their defense and special teams, and regardless of who is under center in 2020, they need to surround their signal-callers with more options.
The team will be returning Mohamed Sanu in 2020, but given that they gave up a second-round pick in this year’s draft to acquire Sanu, the Pats will be unable to take advantage of an unusually deep crop of collegiate receivers until the third round (assuming they don’t take a WR with the No. 23 overall selection). Sanu suffered a high ankle sprain during a punt return in his third game with New England, and he was not the same after that injury. He recently underwent surgery on the ankle, as it did not heal on its own as hoped.
Lee has battled his own injury woes over the past couple of seasons. A knee injury sidelined him for all of the 2018 season, and he battled ankle and shoulder maladies in 2019. But he totaled 1,551 receiving yards between 2016-17, leading all Jags targets in that span, and if healthy, he represents a quality vertical weapon who would nicely complement Edelman, Sanu, and second-year player N’Keal Harry.
No contract details are available at this time, but it is almost certainly a modest deal for the USC product, who hopes to reignite his career in Foxborough.
Zach Links contributed to this post.
thought this would be a good move for my eagles
I feel like he could have been a good low risk signing for most squads. I’m shocked it’s the Pats. Doesn’t he know Tawmy Terrific left town
Pats depth chart leaves plenty of playing time available though, something not as common everywhere
agreed. dissapointed.
Idk who this guy is. Any good?
definitely worth a gamble. was picked in the 2nd ( 39th overall) in 2014. has been injured a few times, but like I said if it was for a one-year cheap deal he would definitely be worth the Gamble
out of the league two years ago and 3 catches last year. nothing special
That Sanu trade is looking pretty regrettable with this draft stacked with wide receiver talent…
It’s not as if the team doesn’t have the draft capital to move up and get a WR they want. The real question is based on their history of swinging and missing on WR in the draft why would you want them to draft one unless it’s one of the top
Hindsight is easy. If they won the SB last year because of him, it would’ve been different hindsight. Clearly they didn’t, but they took a shot. At least they have him for another year.
They are good on WR now, they need 2 tight ends.
BOOM! SB bound baby!!!
Not a bad signing.