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NFL Pro Bowl: First-Timer Projections For All 32 Teams

By Erik Lambert

ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 22: O.J. Howard #80 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers scores a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 08: Darron Lee #58 of the New York Jets celebrates a play in the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 08: Darron Lee #58 of the New York Jets celebrates a play in the second half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 8, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

New York Jets

30. . ILB. New York Jets. Darron Lee . 24. player

The New York Jets defense underwent a massive youth movement over the past couple seasons as the team tries to rebuild on the fly. So far their labors have bore fruit. Leonard Williams, Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye have gotten lots of the attention for fair reasons but this has made it too easy to overlook how steadily Darron Lee has improved. After a spotty rookie campaign, he began to display the athletic potential they saw in him in 2017.

Not only did he make 94 tackles but he also had three sacks, two forced fumbles, and three pass deflections. His versatility was on display every week. Now he’s got a firm grasp on that Todd Bowles defense, so he’ll be playing with less and less thought and more reflex. That is when NFL players tend to deliver their best work. Injuries will be a crucial thing with him given his slimmer frame but he proved he could do it last year.

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