Draft season is just around the corner and there is no better time than now to start breaking down NFL prospects. This class is packed with players that will make an impact at the next level. I will cover every one of them from the big dudes in the trenches to the erasers patrolling the secondary. Let’s get started with a prospect from the Big10, Logan Lee for the Iowa Hawkeyes
Logan Lee was a four-star recruit TE/DE from Orion High School, in Orion, Illinois. Earned unanimous all-conference honors on both offense and defense for three straight seasons and named first-team all-state on both offense and defense as a junior Lee was named to Quad City Times All-Western Illinois first team defense as a junior and senior. He helped the Chargers post a 20-4 record over the final two seasons and 36-10 mark over four years. Lee collected 12 tackles, including three tackles for loss, as a freshman and 28 tackles,10 tackles for loss, and eight sacks as a sophomore. He would record 74 tackles, 28 tackles for loss, and 13 sacks for his junior campaign with 46 tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, and 14 sacks as a senior. Lee still holds the sack record for the Orion Chargers with 35. Along with being a standout football and basketball star, he was a 2X state wrestling champion, just the third in school history to do that.
Lee was recruited to Iowa as a tight end, but with his potential on defense and the log jam the Hawkeyes had at the position, he made a full time switch to defense. Lee would redshirt as a freshman in 2019 and would see action in just two games and play 24 snaps as a redshirt freshman the following season. In 2021, as a r-sophomore, Lee would start all 14 games playing 492 defensive snaps for the Hawkeyes at defensive tackle, where he would record 48 total tackles, 17 solo stops, 35.4% solo rate, with five TFLs, three sacks, and one PBU. He would win the team’s Hustle Award given to the best effort by a defensive player.
He would have maybe his best statistical season overall as a junior, where he would earn an honorable mention All-Big Ten by league coaches and media. Lee started all 13 games, played 561 defensive snaps and registered 54 total tackles, 21 solo stops, 38.8% solo rate, eight TFLs, three sacks, and three PBUs. He would follow that up with a r-senior campaign that consisted of 14 starts with totals of 55 tackles, 19 solo tackles, 34.5% solo rate, with 5½ TFLs, three sacks and three PBUs. He would finish his Hawkeye career with 43 games played, making 41 straight starts, 158 total tackles, 58 solo stops, 36.7% solo rate, 18½ TFLs, nine sacks, and seven PBUs.
Player Breakdown
He didn’t have the most eye-popping production in college but his work in the trenches as a defensive lineman is severely overlooked. Lee was a key piece that opened up things for a lot of other players and that will translate well to the NFL. He had an impressive combine measuring 6’5”/281 lbs and his athleticism testing ranked 5th among Defensive Tackles. Lee is experienced with 41 consecutive starts for the Hawkeyes and while he mainly played the 1-technique and 3-technique on the right side, he played all along the defensive front. He fits the mold of a typical Iowa defensive lineman and what they ask them to do on a week-to-week basis. Big, strong, and physical, with an off-the-charts football IQ and plays with a motor.
Lee’s game starts with his powerful lower body which allows him to anchor and hold up well at the point of attack. His versatility to play all along the defensive front and dependability will be huge for the team that drafts him. Lee has very good hand usage, with a nice mix of swats, swipes, and rips. He’s a much better-run defender than he is a pass rusher, but he has some tools to work with that can allow him to improve a great deal with the proper coaching. Limited pass rush toolbox that needs to be expanded and polished. He isn’t explosive or possess the foot quickness to help create advantages for himself. Despite his very good hand work and lower strength, Lee can be pushed off his mark and have issues shedding blocks. I believe these are correctable issues that he just needs guidance with.
NFL & Fantasy Projection
From a pure pass rusher standpoint, there are better options overall but the presence he provides inside and his workmanlike ability will make him a steal of the draft. Lee will be a quality player that will be a terrific rotational option and even make some starts in the league. To get an idea of just how good Lee is and thought of, there was quite the pushback at the Senior Bowl when he was moved from the West team to the East team. He was having such an impact that it made the move a highly discussed topic. He put on a show all week for scouts, and his late swap to the other side was an impact. Lee was named to the All-West Practice team for the week.
Lee is unlikely to get drafted in IDP leagues, unless it’s in super deep leagues or IDP only type formats. That’s not really a knock against him but more of a casualty of how IDP is played at. With that said I wouldn’t be afraid at all to draft Lee late or pick him up off waivers and stash him on a taxi squad in those types of leagues. His NFL value is way higher than that in the fantasy world but don’t let that deter you in position specific leagues. Right now he projects to be a late round selection in the draft, but he’s going to have an eight to ten year career with a positive impact.
Thanks for reading my article. I am a member of the FSWA (Fantasy Sports Writers of America). Follow me on Twitter at @HollywoodTitan, on Facebook on my IDPNation page, on Reddit in the fantasy football IDP sub — I’m user KingTitan1 — and tune in each week and listen to IDP Nation and Devy IDP Grind, the podcasts that I co-host, on several different platforms. Feel free to email or dm me with any questions that you have, as I’m always glad to help fellow IDPers. #IDPNation #IDP #IDPDevy
