Marqise Lee Builds Toward His Relaunch With New England Patriots

Two years have passed since Marqise Lee bypassed free agency with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

His contract extension brought a max value of $38 million with $16.5 million guaranteed. But what followed was one season that ended with ACL, MCL and PCL tears in the summer. Then another season that ended with a shoulder injury in the fall.

The former All-American and winner of the Biletnikoff Award now begins his relaunch with the New England Patriots.

“I just knew the last couple years, I didn’t really have the opportunity to really go out there and do the things that I felt like I needed to do as a player,” Lee told reporters during his introductory video call on Wednesday. “And I felt like me choosing New England, just to go there as far as this season was a sense of just trying to get back to myself.”

In the hours before April’s NFL draft, Lee agreed to terms on a one-year contract that qualifies for the veteran-salary benefit. The wide receiver’s upcoming $887,500 cap number stands lower than his $910,000 base salary in result.

It is the league minimum for players with six accrued campaigns. It is reflective of the situation.

“I felt like, which place is a perfect place to try to get back and get back to yourself other than New England?” the 28-year-old Lee continued. “Very strict, basically just all about football and handling your business.”

Lee will contend for a 53-man roster spot on a depth chart that returns Julian Edelman, Mohamed Sanu, N’Keal Harry, Jakobi Meyers, Gunner Olszewski, Quincy Adeboyejo and Devin Ross from 2019.

Damiere Byrd, who signed a one-year pact as free agency opened after an ascending year with the Arizona Cardinals, is a new face in the hunt with Lee. Undrafted rookies in Miami’s Jeff Thomas, Auburn’s Will Hastings, Kansas State’s Isaiah Zuber and Syracuse’s Sean Riley are alongside them.

Lee holds the experience. The USC product has caught 174 passes for 2,184 yards and eight touchdowns. Dating back to his 2014 arrival at pick No. 39 overall, he’s checked into 59 games in the regular season and started an AFC Championship Game versus New England.

Yet three receptions and two stints on injured reserve have met Lee since his 2018 extension.

“It’s been quite difficult, with the knee injury and coming back with the shoulder injury,” Lee said. “It’s been difficult, but it’s been a task in which I’ve quite enjoyed as far as quite knowing myself. After these certain injuries, you’ve got some people who get down on themselves and tend to want to shut it down. For me, it’s kind of like a motivating factor. I just want to see where I’m at at this point. I’m eager to get out there and play football, which I feel like I haven’t played for the last couple of years. I’m just ready to get at it.”

When Jacksonville released Lee, his departure gave way to $3.5 million in dead money and $5 million in cap space. He received a reported signing bonus of $137,500 from New England.

A total of $300,000 is guaranteed.

“I just wanted to get back right on track, get everything back on point,” said Lee, “and I feel like New England was the right place for me.”