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Detroit Lions find undrafted gem in WR Jay Lee

By Sayre Bedinger

Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Jay Lee (4) lining up against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Baylor won 45-35. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2015; Stillwater, OK, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver Jay Lee (4) lining up against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the first quarter at Boone Pickens Stadium. Baylor won 45-35. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Lions may have found an undrafted gem in wide receiver Jay Lee, the former Baylor Bears star who averaged almost 20 yards per catch in 2015…

With Calvin Johnson retired, the Detroit Lions made a curious decision to wait until after the draft to add their top young prospect at the wide receiver position in Baylor’s Jay Lee.

Lee, who is coming off of his best season at Baylor, could have easily been an early day three pick with his production, talent, and measurables, but all 32 teams opted to wait until after the draft to secure his services.

Armed with offers from a number of different teams, Lee was able to choose the best situation for him, and that was obviously in Detroit where Megatron had recently left the building.

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While the departure of Johnson is shocking and upsetting to NFL fans, Lee has a chance to come in and provide some excitement for both Lions fans and fantasy football fans alike if he can make some big plays in camp and in the preseason.

Players like Allen Hurns come to mind when you look at a talent like Jay Lee, not in terms of physical measurables but just in terms of their ability to perhaps be better pro players than they were college players. Hurns came out of Miami as an undrafted free agent, and has developed into a guy that just cracked double digit touchdowns.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves on Jay Lee just yet. Let’s take a look at what he brings to the table…

As a senior in 2015, Lee averaged nearly 20 yards per catch and scored a career high eight touchdowns. He didn’t run a complicated route tree at Baylor, which was the knock against his teammate Corey Coleman, but you can teach guys to run routes. Early on in his career, Lee is going to make his mark by making big plays deep downfield and gaining yards after the catch.

At 6-2, 215 pounds, Lee has really good size for a receiver prospect (though nothing close to Calvin Johnson) and runs a very solid 4.53 at that height/weight. He’s capable of burning you deep or using his athleticism to make a tough catch and beat you after the fact.

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Having turned down offers from at least four or five other teams, this was a big haul for the Lions on the undrafted free agent market. They had to land a top UDFA WR and they got one in Baylor’s Lee, especially considering they didn’t really make any impact moves at the position this offseason outside of signing Cincinnati’s Marvin Jones to a free agent contract.

Lee has a golden opportunity in Detroit, and he knows it. He needs some coaching and developing, but the skills are there for this to be a big time undrafted find for The Lions.

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