NAPA – Marquel Lee spent his first professional training camp working with the first unit. The Raiders didn’t have many options at middle linebacker, so they rolled with the fifth-round pick from Wake Forest.
The Raiders haven’t had much luck with middle linebackers starting with Rolando McClain, with veteran signings Nick Roach and Curtis Lofton and draft picks Ben Heeney and Neiron Ball failing to stabilize an important position.
Perry Riley Jr. helped out during the 2016 season, but he didn’t return and hasn’t played NFL football since that year.
The Raiders were hoping Lee would fit right in as a primary starter, but he wasn’t quite ready for so much responsibility.