Will Lee III CB Texas A&M | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Will Lee III CB Texas A&M
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 06/04/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (29%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| ROLE: Outside Zone CB | |
| Last Updated: 06/04/2025 | |
| Draft Year: 2026 | |
| 40 time: 4.55 seconds (29%*) | |
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SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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| Overall Rating: | 83.7 / 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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78% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| QB Rating When targeted: | 91.1 | |
| Tackling: |
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78% |
| Run Defense: |
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56% |
| Coverage: |
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76% |
| Zone: |
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78% |
| Man/Press: |
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71% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#104
Position rank:
#19
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| College Games: 23 College Snaps: 1103 | ||
247 RATING: 79/100
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dorian Strong - Virginia Tech |
|
76% |
| Eli Ricks - Alabama |
|
76% |
| Brandon Adams - UCF |
|
73% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Will Lee III first made his mark at Kirkwood High School, where he captured first-team all-state honors from the Missouri Football Coaches Association in 2019 while recording 61 tackles as a junior, including 14 for loss and four sacks. His versatility extended beyond the gridiron, competing in both basketball and track before football became his primary focus.The lanky defensive back's journey took him through Iowa Western Community College, where he redshirted in 2021 before exploding onto the scene in 2022. Lee anchored the Reivers' NJCAA National Championship run with 34 tackles, 10 passes defended, and an interception across 12 games. His dominant junior college performance earned him NJCAA First Team All-America recognition alongside first-team all-conference and all-region honors, establishing himself as one of the premier defensive backs in junior college football.
Kansas State became Lee's next stop in 2023, where he immediately stepped into a starting role and thrived in Big 12 competition. Starting nine of eleven games for the Wildcats, Lee accumulated 42 tackles, two interceptions, eight passes defended, plus a forced fumble and recovery while earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention recognition from league coaches. His standout season caught the attention of Texas A&M, where he transferred for the 2024 campaign and became an immediate impact player for Mike Elko's defense, earning All-SEC Second Team honors while leading the nation with 10 pass deflections.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Good length at 6'3" allows him to disrupt passing lanes and contest catches with receivers at the catch point.
- Decent hip flexibility for his size, showing adequate transition ability when changing directions in coverage.
- Comfortable in press-man coverage where he can use his length to jam receivers and disrupt timing at the line.
- Shows ball awareness with solid hands, demonstrated by his 10 pass breakups leading the nation in 2024.
- Sound tackler who wraps up well in space and doesn't miss many opportunities to bring down ball carriers.
- Willing run defender who engages blockers and makes tackles when needed, though not his strongest suit.
- Plays with confidence and doesn't back down from challenging matchups against quality receivers.
- Has experience in different coverage schemes and can contribute on special teams while developing his skills.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Subpar long speed will be exploited by NFL-caliber receivers
- Zone coverage technique remains inconsistent, often losing spatial awareness and allowing receivers to find soft spots in coverage.
- Lean 190-pound frame may struggle to handle the physicality of bigger NFL receivers who can muscle through his press coverage.
- Technical refinement needed in route recognition and anticipation to compete with polished professional route runners who create separation.
- Limited experience against elite competition raises questions about his ability to immediately translate skills to the professional level.
Scouting Report: Summary
Lee's comfort in press situations and natural ball skills provide a foundation, but his struggles in zone concepts and modest athleticism create clear limitations that NFL offensive coordinators will target. His speed becomes more problematic at the next level where separation happens faster and windows close quicker than what he faced in college.His size allows him to handle bigger slot receivers and contribute in specific packages, though his inconsistent zone coverage technique limits his three-down potential. The developmental curve remains steep - his technique needs refinement and his frame requires additional strength to handle the physicality that awaits. His tackling ability and willingness in run support offer some versatility, but these secondary skills won't overcome his coverage limitations if they persist.
Realistically, Lee faces an uphill battle to secure meaningful playing time early in his pro career. His combination of size and ball skills keeps him interesting as a late-round developmental piece, but teams will need patience and strong coaching to unlock whatever ceiling exists. The transition from his current skill set to NFL-ready corner will require significant improvement in multiple areas, making him more of a long-term project than an immediate contributor. His success will ultimately depend on finding the right system and coaching staff willing to invest in his development while understanding his current limitations.
Written By:
Wyatt Brooks (SEC)
How other scouting services rate Will Lee III (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
74.5
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
14.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.