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It comes as no shock, but the Jets have officially informed linebacker Darron Lee that they will not pick up his fifth year option.
The Jets have notified Darron Lee they are not picking up his 5th year option, per source. No surprise. This has been expected for last few months. #nyj
— Brian Costello (@BrianCoz) May 3, 2019
Reports in recent weeks had indicated this was coming. Truthfully the writing has been on the wall since the team signed C.J. Mosley in free agency.
First round picks sign four year contracts, but the team has an option for the fifth season. The deadline for picking it up occurs in the offseason between the player’s third and fourth years in the league. The money is not guaranteed during the player’s fourth NFL season unless the player suffers a serious injury. The money becomes guaranteed if he remains on his team’s roster at the start of the next league year. Lee’s fifth year option would have been for $9.5 million.
The question now becomes whether the Jets will be able to trade Lee before the start of the season.