Jets eye market for Lee

PHOENIX – Adam Gase expects Darron Lee to show up for the start of the Jets “voluntary” offseason program on April 8. After all, Lee is on the team. Until he’s not. Nearly three weeks after the Daily News reported that Gang Green is hoping to move on from Lee, the new head coach tip-toed around the linebacker’s future.

“I know everybody is trying to figure out what’s going on,” Gase said at the annual league meetings this week. “Here’s what I know: Darron’s on the roster. When April 8 hits, we’re going to work. Right now, this is how I’m looking at it.”

I spoke to general managers and executives this week who had interest in trading for Lee at the right price.

What that price actually is remains to be seen.

After all, Lee was suspended for the final four games last season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. That suspension triggered a forfeiture of his guaranteed money, according to a source. The Jets likely have already tried to recoup a part of his prorated signing bonus (roughly a quarter of the prorated amount, per terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement).

The worst-case scenario is that Lee would play the final year of his rookie contract ($1.8 million) before walking into free agency. (The Jets have more than a month to pick up Lee’s fifth-year option — guaranteed for injury only — for a projected $10 million in 2020).

Gase maintained that inside linebacker C.J. Mosley’s arrival doesn’t impact Lee’s future because “they play different positions.”

Regardless, Lee has been a disappointment since he was taken with the No. 20 overall pick in the 2016 draft. General manager Mike Maccagnan said this week that Lee’s role “will work itself out over time,” but make no mistake: The Jets would love to deal Lee for a fair price before or during the draft.