Adam Gase the general manager did not take long to make his first move.
Gase traded linebacker Darron Lee to the Chiefs in exchange for a sixth-round pick Wednesday, a source confirmed, just hours after he was appointed interim GM following the firing of Mike Maccagnan. The trade is pending a physical for Lee.
Lee was the Jets’ first-round pick in 2016, selected No. 20 overall. He has had a mostly forgettable career, and the writing was on the wall for him over the past two months after the Jets signed C.J. Mosley to a five-year, $85 million deal in March. Maccagnan tried to trade Lee during last month’s draft but could not find a deal.
It took Gase a few hours to make the move.
The Jets took the undersized Lee out of Ohio State, hoping he could be a Swiss Army Knife in former coach Todd Bowles’ defense. But Lee struggled at inside linebacker as a rookie, not big enough to fight off blocks in the rushing game. He was not much better in coverage. He showed some progress in 2017 then started off 2018 with a huge game against the Lions — with two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
The success on opening night in Detroit faded, though, and Lee ended the season with a four-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Besides his on-field struggles, Lee had maturity issues and was not popular with his teammates. Bowles was Lee’s biggest supporter, and when he was fired after last season, Lee was in trouble.
With Lee gone, the top two picks from the 2016 draft class are no longer with the Jets. Second-round pick Christian Hackenberg was one of Maccagnan’s biggest whiffs in the draft and was traded away last year. He is now out of the NFL.
Lee will now get a chance at a fresh start with a Chiefs team that is considered a Super Bowl contender. He will get to work with former Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who is in his first year in the same role in Kansas City.
The Jets will move on with Mosley and Avery Williamson at inside linebacker. Neville Hewitt, Anthony Wint and rookie Blake Cashman are the top reserves at the position.