Buffalo Bills 2021 Player Profile: Linebacker Marquel Lee
Can Marquel Lee earn a spot on the 53-man roster with the Buffalo Bills?
Marquel Lee was one of two free agent linebackers the Buffalo Bills signed this offseason. He previously was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft and spent three seasons with the team.
One of the storylines in Lee’s career to this point has been injuries and his inability to stay on the field. His best season came in 2018 when he played in all 16 games and started 10 of those. He finished that season with 68 total tackles and three passes defended.
However, in 2019 he was placed on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. He attempted to return towards the end of the season but suffered a toe injury and was placed on injured reserve for a second time.
This past offseason, Lee started training camp on the PUP list and then was waived with a failed physical designation.
Profile
Position: Linebacker
Age: 25
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 235 pounds
Years of Experience: 4
Expectations for the 2021 season with the Buffalo Bills
It is always tough to determine what a player can bring to the team when he misses a full season and the season before that was limited to less than half of a season. The scouting report on NFL.com prior to the 2017 NFL Draft describes a player who could play middle linebacker with some coaching so he could be playing for the backup role behind Tremaine Edmunds.
One question each rookie needs to answer in camp. dark. Next
A more likely scenario is that he is playing for a spot on special teams. In 2018, his only full season, he played 86% of the special teams snaps for the Raiders. If this is where the Bills see Lee fitting on the roster, he will be competing with Andre Smith for a spot on the Buffalo Bills’ 53-man roster.