A look at how Darron Lee can emerge in 2017

Linebacker Darron Lee can get back on the right track in 2017 with the New York Jets if he’s able to fill the void of leadership on a defense that desperately needs it.

Not too long ago, linebacker Darron Lee was involved in an off-the-field incident. It’s hard to tell what exactly transpired but at the end of the day, it put Lee’s name in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. As a young player in the NFL and with a struggling team like the New York Jets, it’s imperative to understand that the focus should always be on performances on the field, not dumb decisions off it.

Hopefully, Lee learned a thing or two from the incident and after time passes, can simply head into training camp and focus on the task at hand. In the grand scheme of things, Lee can get his name back into a positive light by working hard to continue honing his craft and above all else, focus on leadership.

With the release of linebacker David Harris, the defense of the Jets will lack leadership and a vocal player that not only rallied the troops but set the example for those around him. It’s hard to fill the shoes of Harris but Lee can take this golden opportunity to bounce back for all the right reasons instead of hanging his head low due to this recent off-the-field incident.

2017 will be an interesting year for the Jets as they rebuild towards a brighter future. Players will be working hard to prove their worth and give the Jets plenty of reasons to keep them around for years to come. Lee showed signs of brilliance in his rookie season with the Jets last year as he totaled 42 tackles, two passes defended, and a sack.