Now that the Super Bowl is over, we are sure to see an increase in mock drafts from the major media websites. On Tuesday, Nate Davis of USA Today released his initial mock of the first round and has the Pittsburgh Steelers selecting USC wide receiver Marqise Lee with the 15th overall selection.
Davis writes:
They’d probably love a bigger body like Evans’ to supplement diminutive Antonio Brown, but the talented Lee (6-0, 195) is probably too good to pass up as a replacement for Emmanuel Sanders.
Lee is the third wide receiver off the board in Davis’ mock this go around as he has both Sammy Watkins and Mike Evans already off the board come time for the Steelers selection.
We will break down Lee more thoroughly in a future post, but in the tape I have watched of him, the thing that really stuck out was his willingness to block. He might be the best blocking wide receiver in this class.
While he is regarded mostly as a hands catcher, Lee did have some drop problems at USC and he’s not above catching with his chest when it is not called for. You should know that he only had a 62.6% catch rate and one red zone touchdown catch in 2013 after having seven in 2012.
Lee is a former high school defensive back and while he is physical with his play, he has had some issues getting clean releases off the line of scrimmage against press coverage at times. While at USC, Lee showed that he is good at getting yards after the catch and generally a target everywhere within 20 yards of the line of scrimmage. He was used quite a bit on screens last season and also returned both punts and kickoffs for the Trojans.
Lee had a left knee injury that forced him to miss playing time in 2013, so you can bet that will be checked out thoroughly at the combine later this month.
While Lee will more than likely be drafted in the first round, I can’t help but feel that 15th overall might be a tad too early for him. What say you?
