Quarterbacks love to throw at rookie cornerbacks, and it makes sense. Rookie corners come in and are left alone on an island with the NFL’s top receivers; why not give the wideout a shot? With injuries to starters Jaycee Horn and Mike Jackson, the Carolina Panthers have given rookie fourth-round pick Will Lee III the nod as starter, primarily on the boundary guarding the opponent's best receiver. Lee III made his first start during Week Four against the Detroit Lions, where the 23-year-old and the Panthers upset the Lions. The difference between Lee III and other first-year CBs is that Lee III likes when the ball is thrown his way. Ahead of their Week Six clash with the Jalen Hurts-less Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina put out their team depth chart. To no surprise, ‘The Seatbelt,’ a nickname Lee III earned during his time at Texas A&M, was named the starter again.
In man-to-man coverage, Lee III is aggressive. He can be beaten with long speed, but his tenacity and length make it easier for him to contain receivers. The six-foot-one, 189-pounder is a fluid corner with terrific ball skills. The 23-year-old has only allowed two receptions of over 15 yards, per Pro Football Focus. This has a lot to do with how aggressive he is at the line of scrimmage, where he can put his long arms to use in press coverage.
In zone coverage, Lee III uses his lightning-like closing speed to do damage. As a rookie, he does not have the instincts of an elite corner yet, but his agility and acceleration have helped him notch four pass breakups this year. That number is good for a top-five in the NFL, and the former Aggie will let his mark know when he makes a play. The uber-aggressive nature leads to some missed tackles, though.
Whoever is throwing the ball in Philadelphia on Sunday needs to account for Lee III, who will most likely be matched up against DeVonta Smith. That will be a sure-fire matchup to watch, as the aforementioned Smith is one of the NFL’s top wideouts. As the Panthers look to improve to 3-2 post-bye week and still await the return of their top two defensive backs, Lee III and the beaten-up Carolina defense will try to hold down the fort in Week Six. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. EST.
