Wild Wildcats in the NFL

[Katpappy]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWSGy8idHAo

It's easy to see why he's the type of guy who is successful in coaching college and pro players.

[scottwildcat]

http://draftanalyst.com/da-draft-buzz-january-3rd

Lee must hate school.

[BackPayne]

3rd round?! Really?

[MakeItRain]

http://draftanalyst.com/da-draft-buzz-january-3rd

Lee must hate school.

Why do you say that?

[ChiComCat]

Lee should do what's best for Lee but if they are talking about squeezing into the 3rd, I would think he might be better off with another year at K-State.

[scottwildcat]

http://draftanalyst.com/da-draft-buzz-january-3rd

Lee must hate school.

Why do you say that?

If you leave and you're not in the first two rounds I would assume you just have decided you're done with school, or his family is in need of money.

[scottwildcat]

I also would be shocked if he was a first 3 or 4 round guy. I haven't seen his name on any boards at all.

[cfbandyman]

Yeah, I mean I like Lee a lot, but I don't think he's a 1-3 rounder. 4th even is pushing it a bit, maybe next year he can bump solidly into 3 and a really good year low 2. Another year really only helps, he can only improve his stock, and if he lord forbid gets hurt, he wouldn't be losing that much money. Smart move is to stay.

[treysolid]

I would think that if Lee wants be a LB in the NFL, he needs to show that he can add another 10-15 lbs and not lose any speed.

[Sandstone Outcropping]

Also, Vita Vea is an awesome name for an awesome football player. Like a powerful supplement that allows you to crush opposing offensive linemen.

[cfbandyman]

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/jordy-nelson-is-behind-the-packers-renaissance/

[MakeItRain]

Coming back to school does not provide a guarantee that his draft stock will improve. It's not as cut and dry as come back and vault into the first or second round.  It kinda makes more sense for a guy like Lee to leave early than it does someone like Fournette.

[ChiComCat]

It makes a million times more sense for Fournette to leave early

[scottwildcat]

Coming back to school does not provide a guarantee that his draft stock will improve. It's not as cut and dry as come back and vault into the first or second round.  It kinda makes more sense for a guy like Lee to leave early than it does someone like Fournette.

I get what you're saying, but Lee's "stock" isn't even on hot boards.

[MakeItRain]

It makes a million times more sense for Fournette to leave early

Fournette is a sure thing, no matter what. He comes back and has another season like he did this one, productive but hampered by injury, he falls to the second or third round. A guy like Lee has many more factors he has to deal with. Not only does he have to stay healthy and productive but there are other factors he has to deal with; if the defense reverts back to 2015, that reflects on him, we have a disappointing season and he falls out of consciousness, that's another risk. Guys who have prospects in the margins are taking a much bigger risk when they don't strike when the iron is hot. Fournette is far from any margin. If Lee misses half of the year next season like Fournette did this season, do you think his draft stock would be completely unaffected like it has been with Fournette?

[ChiComCat]

Fournette has no potential upside to coming back and is guaranteed to lose a year of earnings.  Lee has potential upside which could fairly easily offset the loss from a year of earnings.  As far as guaranteed money goes, Fournette would be risking $20m in falling from the first to the third due to injury (Mo Lattimore-esque).  At most, Lee is risking $200k in guarantees although its just as likely he isn't getting a guaranteed contract.  I also don't think the iron is hot for Lee.  He was a top 5 underclassmen LB for Mel Kiper coming into the season with a defense that was bad last year.  He seems pretty similarly rated now with a better defense.

I'd like to see Lee back for selfish reasons.  I also think him coming back would be a good choice. Lee's priority has to be what is best for him and he knows what that is far more than I do so if he goes, good luck to him.

[bubbles4ksu]

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/contracts/outside-linebacker/type-rookie/

It's worth it to come back if you think you can break into the 2nd round. If you know your measureables aren't improving, you should go asap.

[ChiComCat]

Nice chart.

Fournette is in high level 1 and could go to 3 (worst reasonable case).  Lee is at best low level 3 and could go UFA (which is like a 7 but picking your situation).

[MakeItRain]

Fournette has no potential upside to coming back and is guaranteed to lose a year of earnings.  Lee has potential upside which could fairly easily offset the loss from a year of earnings.  As far as guaranteed money goes, Fournette would be risking $20m in falling from the first to the third due to injury (Mo Lattimore-esque).  At most, Lee is risking $200k in guarantees although its just as likely he isn't getting a guaranteed contract.  I also don't think the iron is hot for Lee.  He was a top 5 underclassmen LB for Mel Kiper coming into the season with a defense that was bad last year.  He seems pretty similarly rated now with a better defense.

I'd like to see Lee back for selfish reasons.  I also think him coming back would be a good choice. Lee's priority has to be what is best for him and he knows what that is far more than I do so if he goes, good luck to him.

I don't disagree with any of that, I'm not arguing monetary differences, my argument is based on the things that can happen to cause a precipitous fall, for Fournette that's one thing, a catastrophic injury, for Lee there are more factors. My bigger issue is the thought that Lee would leave for any reason having to do with how he feels about K-State, the coaches, or the team.

[MakeItRain]

Also you guys are assuming that he absolutely will be a third round pick or lower.

[bubbles4ksu]

Lee's twitter feed makes me believe he's enjoying KSU.

[MakeItRain]

I'm letting scottwildcat being a shithead drive this conversation and I need to stop, I apologize.

[ChiComCat]

Lee certainly has more risk than Fournette.  The difference is that Fournette has absolutely no upside and Lee has some.

I would be thrilled to be wrong but if Lee is a second round pick or better I would be shocked.  I haven't seen anything indicating that he would go that high yet.  If he reasonably believes he will go in the second round due to some evaluation or interview with certain teams, he should definitely go.  I think its probably 2% he goes in 1 or 2, 8% he goes in 3, 40% he goes in 4, 45% he goes in 5, 5% he goes later.

Yea, ScottWildcat saying that Lee must hate school because he jumps at the first shot of realizing his dreams is ridiculous.

[Tobias]

I'm letting scottwildcat being a shithead drive this conversation and I need to stop, I apologize.

he's had a pretty good run of occupation lately

[scottwildcat]

I'm letting scottwildcat being a shithead drive this conversation and I need to stop, I apologize.

Lol