Marqise Lee is (at least temporarily) heading back to the west coast. Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports (via Twitter) that the veteran receiver is participating in 49ers minicamp on a tryout basis.
Lee grew up in Long Beach, went to high school in Gardena, and then burst onto the national stage as a member of the USC Trojans. His standout collegiate career ultimately led to him being selected by the Jaguars in the second round (No. 39) of the 2014 draft, but he struggled to live up to his draft stock during his time in Jacksonville.
The wideout compiled only 660 yards from scrimmage and two scores through his first two seasons in the NFL, although he did manage to carve out a larger role in the offense in 2016 and 2017. During those two years, Lee averaged 59.5 receptions and 776 receiving yards with only three touchdowns per year.
Lee still managed to secure a four-year, $38M extension from the Jaguars, but after sitting out most of the 2019 campaign thanks to a knee injury, he was released by the team last offseason. The 29-year-old ended up catching on with the Patriots, but he decided to opt out of the 2020 campaign. New England gave the receiver his walking papers back in March.
The 49ers have dedicated some draft capital to wideouts over the past few years, and recent draft picks like Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are expected to lead the depth chart. Free agent addition Mohamed Sanu will likely slide in as the third receiver, but Lee could have a chance to compete with the likes of Richie James, Trent Sherfield, and Jalen Hurd for leftover snaps.
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