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The Jacksonville Jaguars released wide receiver Marqise Lee on Monday, clearing out another starter from a 2017 squad that went to the AFC Championship Game. Lee led that team with 56 receptions for a second best 702 yards and three touchdowns. He missed all of 2018 with a knee injury and ten more games in 2019 with another knee injury. The Jaguars clear $7 million in cap space while carrying $3.5 million in dead money, per Over The Cap.
Lee signed a four-year, $34 million contract with the Jaguars in 2018 after back-to-back decent seasons to close out his rookie deal. He caught 63 receptions for 851 yards and three touchdowns in 2016 and then 56 receptions for 702 yards and three touchdowns in 2017.
His release has little bearing on the Jaguars depth chart. D.J. Chark broke out last season with 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. Chris Conley and Dede Westbrook combined for 113 receptions for 1,435 yards and eight touchdowns. Keelan Cole had 24 receptions for 361 yards and three touchdowns in what was a second straight letdown season after a solid rookie campaign.
The Jaguars have a host of needs to figure out, and it’s not entirely clear what they plan on doing at the wide receiver position. Conley has five years under his belt and had the best season of his career last season with the Jaguars. Westbrook is entering his fourth season and is looking like a solid second or third option. This is a historically deep draft, and with 12 picks, the Jaguars can afford to invest a day two or three pick in the position.
Chark is the clear No. 1, but keep an eye out for what they do on day two. Conley and Westbrook ranked 39th and 49th, respectively, in standard leagues and 43rd and 42nd, respectively, in PPR leagues. Part of that is the shaky quarterback situation, but part of it is that they are simply not that great at what they do. They are only options in deeper leagues.
Lee will likely land somewhere, but it won’t be until after the draft. He ranked 40th in 2017 and 42nd in 2016 among all wide receivers in standard leagues, and has played little since then. Wherever he does land, he remains undraftable until he proves otherwise.