With the 2020 NFL Draft coming up and the team likely to land a receiver in the process, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be releasing long-time veteran wide-out Marqise Lee. The move comes in the process of them reallocating their money and seemingly looking to build their roster with rookie contracts which would help tremendously in the long-run.
A surprise: The #Jaguars are releasing WR Marqise Lee, source said. One of their most productive receivers is now a free agent – fully healthy and completely cleared medically — right before the draft.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 20, 2020
Lee, 28, was drafted by the Jags in the 2014 NFL Draft and was one of the team’s longest-tenured veterans. Unfortunately, he had issues staying on the field playing in just 59 of the 80 games he was signed with the team. However, when he was healthy he was a solid contributor and will exit his time in Jacksonville with 174 receptions for 2,184 total receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
With the Jags having a lot of their money on hold due to Yannick Ngakoue being franchise tagged (yet unsigned), the move was one many projected. Releasing him saves $5.25 million against the cap as he was due to make $7 million and the Jags will eat a dead cap amount of $3.5 in the process, per Spotrac.
With him being medically cleared, Lee shouldn’t have trouble finding a new home. As for the Jags, they’re expected to take a receiver in the top-3 rounds.