Dallas Cowboys promised Sean Lee a starting role in 2019
When Sean Lee opted to return to the Dallas Cowboys for his 10th season, it was believed to be as a backup. That is apparently not the case as he’ll start.
The Dallas Cowboys used their first round selection in the 2018 NFL Draft to add Boise State linebacker Leighton Vander Esch to their depth chart. And the move made sense considering the injury history behind both starters Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith.
The selection proved to be prolific as Lee was forced to miss nine games due to a hamstring injury. In his place, Vander Esch posted a Pro Bowl rookie season racking up 140 combined tackles, seven pass defends and two interceptions while starting in 11 of his 16 games played.
Jaylon Smith was able to start all 16 games in 2018, posting 121 total tackles, 4.0 sacks, four pass defends and two forced fumbles. The youthful combination of Smith and Vander Esch in Dallas appears to be one of the most talented duos in the NFL already. But where does that leave the 32-year old Lee?
Well, at the end of last season, the nine-year veteran was contemplating retirement. But Lee quickly decided he still wanted to play in 2019. Scheduled to make $7 million as he entered into the final year of his contract in Dallas, Lee agree to reduced his salary in order to return. But that agreement apparently came with a stipulation.
According to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Cowboys promised Lee a starting role in 2019 when he agree to return this season at a discount.
"“Lee got the promise to start when he decided to come back at a reduced salary. His base salary was slashed from $7 million to $2 million with the possibility of making some of it up in play-time incentives. But it also spoke to how much he wanted to continue playing after contemplating retirement.”"
The expectation is that Lee will start at strongside linebacker, a void along the starting lineup that former Cowboy now Kansas City Chiefs’ linebacker Damien Wilson occupied last season. Wilson ended up playing just under 28 percent of Dallas’ defensive snaps in 2018.
Lee initially played at the middle linebacker position until the injuries started piling up. He was shifted to weakside linebacker in an effort to try and keep the aging veteran healthy. But Lee has missed a total of 14 games in the past two seasons anyway.
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Turning 33-years old in July, Sean Lee should start the season alongside Leighton Vander Esch and Jaylon Smith to form the top linebacker trio in the entire NFL. But considering his age and injury history, limiting Lee’s snaps going forward is a good idea. Still, expect the ultra-competitive veteran to try to get on the field as much as he can, even as a primary backup to Smith and Vander Esch at times.