Cayden Lee

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The Bee's Knees

If you were in a room and Missouri WR Cayden Lee walked in, you probably wouldn't think that he's a football player. He has a youthful, baby-face appearance and a slight, slender build. He looks like a high school student. I question whether he's playing the right sport. Lee says that he was a very good soccer player before he decided to focus on football. He's undersized to be an NFL player but he has the right build and size to be a pro soccer player. If he had chosen soccer instead of football, I wonder if he'd already be a pro athlete playing in MLS.

If the soccer counterpart to a QB would be the central midfielder who distributes passes, I'd describe Lee as the holding midfielder who plays behind him, a trusty side-kick with a high work rate. Nothing flashy and won't score many goals, but dependable and helps the team maintain possession of the ball.

Lee is known as "Honeycomb". Cam Newton gave him the nickname during his 7-on-7 football days due to Lee's hair color. Lee is a draft riser who is off to a hot start in 2026. He obviously won't become the number one overall selection like Cam Newton, but he is somewhat similar to a WR who played with Newton during his MVP and Super Bowl season, Corey "Philly" Brown, who was an UDFA in 2014. At his Pro Day, Brown measured 5'11 3/8'' tall, 178 pounds and ran 4.52 seconds in the 40.

One expert who was already on Lee before the start of the 2026 season was Shane Hallam. In his 7-round mock, he made Lee a late 6th round pick. Which team did Hallam have picking Lee? The Los Angeles Rams.

 

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Part 1: Background

Name, Age, School: Cayden Lee, turns 22 in November of 2026, 4th year senior, Ole Miss 2023 to 2025, Missouri 2026. Studied business at Ole Miss. Nicknamed "Honeycomb".

Size, estimated speed: Listed 5'11'' tall and 180 pounds. DraftBuzz 4.49 seconds estimated 40 time. Draftscout 5'11 1/4'' tall and 180 pounds, 4.42 seconds in 40.

3-star and 4-star recruit from GA. Played for 3 different HS over 3 seasons. 34-525-5 as SO, 54-1,014-11 as JR, 74-1,101-13 as SR. Enrolled early at Ole Miss.

Lee describes Austin Simmons (Mizzou's QB who transferred from Ole Miss) as his best friend off the field. The 2 do many things together socially and on social media.

Reportedly had multiple injuries during 2024 season, including a foot injury. He's currently listed as questionable for Missouri's next game. Lee says he bulked up and added 10 pounds for the start of the 2025 season.

91.6 PFN impact score in 2026, ranking 11th out of 575 players. Has 42 catches on 56 targets with 4.8 YAC per reception (537th) and a 75% catch rate (187th). In 2025, he had a 76.4 impact score (146 out of 370 players), with 6.5 YAC/Rec (76th) and a 68.8% catch rate (115th).

According to Ole Miss, he had zero drops in 2024. DraftBuzz says he had 2 drops in 2025. Earlier this month, PFF said he had zero drops in 2026.

2023 (10 games, 1 start) 5-114-2
2024 (13 games, 12 starts) 57-874-2 receiving, 2-18 rushing
2025 (15 games, 15 starts) 44-635-3, 1 fumble
2026 (Missouri, 6 games, 5 starts) 42-616-5

Drafttek 185 (6th round, just behind Jamal Roberts and just ahead of Evan Stewart, Mike Matthews and Ian Strong)
DraftBuzz 6th round projection, 197. (+) Reliable hands, only 2 drops in 2025, sharp route runner. (-) Average speed, not a vertical threat, slight frame limits contested catches and YAC production, a possession WR, lacks separation quickness, capped ceiling.
Shane Hallam 7-round mock draft in July: late 6th round, 213 (to Rams)
AtoZSports simulator 223 (7th round) just behind Stewart and Matthews
Buffalo Fambase board 259 (late 7th to UDFA)
Ian Cummings 439 (436 in the simulator using his board)
Draftscout Day 3 projection, "stock up" designation
Jacob Infante 511 (UDFA)
NFLMDD consensus board not ranked
FirstandTen not ranked
Fanspeak consensus board not ranked
SticktotheModel board not ranked

 

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Part 2: Strengths

Almost never drops passes or fumbles the ball. If the reported stats are accurate, he has a miniscule career drop rate. Only 1 career fumble. Sure-handed and reliable for the QB.

Consistent production both at power-conference level and in HS. At his current pace, he'll be well over 1,000 yards by the end of the regular season.

Good body control to adjust to off-target throws. Pulls the ball into his body and protects it from contact to complete catches.

Quick feet. Energetic style, try-hard player. Has enough quickness and moves to create some yardage after the catch and dodge defenders in the open field.

Has experience playing from both tight splits and very wide splits.

While he's too small and underpowered to be a good blocker, he's a willing blocker who hustles and gives sufficient effort. He gets shed easily but at least he momentarily gets in the way. Not scared if asked to block in the box in a condensed formation, will stick his nose into contact.

Normal age for draft prospect. I'm not aware of any serious injuries with this player, which gives him a leg up on someone like Emmett Mosley, who I really like but has a very lengthy injury history.

Adequate size and athleticism. He's not a burner but it isn't like he runs 4.75 seconds in the 40. He's not tall but he's taller than Tutu Atwell. He has no elite size or athletic traits but since we're talking about a fringe draft prospect, there isn't anything in particular that I'd label as "reject level" for the NFL. He's not camp fodder who has no hope. He has "good enough" athleticism to at least compete for a roster spot in camp and the preseason.

 

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Part 3: Weaknesses

Alex Bachman is slightly bigger than Lee and has longer arms. If the estimated 40 times are accurate, Lee might run exactly as fast as Bachman. I consider Bachman to be a PS level guy. He's only occasionally been on a regular roster and his value is almost exclusively on special teams. Bachman was an UDFA in 2019. If Bachman and Lee were in the same draft class, it'd be close, but I probably would go with Bachman. In a way it doesn't matter, because if both WRs are placed on the UDFA tier, who cares about the order? You could call both of them on the phone and try to get them to sign UDFA contracts. Let them fight it out on the field for a PS spot once you get to training camp. It is difficult to justify giving Lee a draft-worthy grade if we assume that on the 2026 Rams squad he'd end up behind Bachman on the depth chart and wouldn't make the regular roster. Why draft a player you're going to waive and have to see if he clears waivers just to put him on PS?

Doesn't have prototypical size, even to be a slot WR. Poor body mass and length. At 180 pounds, Lee weighs less than Drake Stoops. Gets rerouted and jammed. Not muscular or strong. Lacks play strength for NFL level.

Very questionable special teams value and potential. Nothing in his Ole Miss bio gives any indication that he's ever played on special teams. Has no return experience and I'm not aware of any evidence that he's played on any other ST units. He doesn't have the right traits to be a returner in the NFL and he doesn't have the size and athleticism to project to be a good ST player in another role, like a gunner. This is a huge deal, because if he isn't the starting slot WR, he could be a big liability as a ST player. IMO, this is a critical factor in deciding whether he'll make an NFL roster as a backup player. The Rams already have big issues on special teams. We're not trying to make the problem even worse in 2027.

Gets jacked off his feet and shoved backwards as a blocker. Limited blocking duties in team's scheme. Physically outclassed by strong SEC defenders and the differential will only get worse once he moves up a level to the NFL.

High COG for his size. Doesn't have elite balance or lateral hip fluidity.

Doesn't make sharp breaks on his routes. Too rounded and not precise at the break point. Doesn't have sudden COD athleticism. Hips are surprisingly tight for his build and size.

Helped by stacked formations and pre-snap motion to get free releases. Team's offensive schemes stretch the defense and create natural voids in the coverage.

Lacks guile, deception and disguise in the route stem. Doesn't widen or manipulate the CB to create an optimal window for the pass. Instead, he'll drift into the route at the top of the stem.

Doesn't burst out of his stance coming off the line.

All 3 of his QBs might end up being 1st round draft picks. Played on talented offenses with other WRs, TEs and RBs that were NFL prospects. Some of his production is driven by the "machine" that was around him. He's not some of the other WRs we've looked at who had to shoulder the load themselves as WR1 without much help.

Not versatile. Can only play slot WR. A backup WR ideally could fill in at all the WR positions. He can't be a small "speed X" receiver, because he's too slow. Consequently, if Lee isn't the starting slot, he has very little value as a backup. The reality is that it becomes an "all or nothing" proposition. He has to be really good or he's immediately on the bubble looking at the PS.

 

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Part 4: Draft Grade and Pro Comp

UDFA grade. (Ronnie Bell, late 7th round 2023, Niners, Michigan)

Bell played with Blake Corum at Michigan. On a team that had JJ McCarthy and a slew of future NFL draft picks, Bell led Michigan in receiving his senior season with 889 yards. The 2nd best WR only had 499 yards. Bell tore his ACL in 2021.

Like Lee, Bell wasn't a tremendous athlete. He's even a little slower than Lee. Bell wasn't sudden and wasn't a YAC threat, but he had good ball skills and was an overachiever. He's mostly been on practice squads and recently was released from the Raiders PS. He has 10 career NFL catches for 113 yards and 4TDs. As a rookie, he returned punts.

Similar to Bell and Bachman, I think that Cayden Lee can hang around the NFL for a few years and carve out a career in pro football, but it will only be on the margins. I don't expect him to ever develop into a core starter or top backup. He's too small and doesn't have great athleticism. A coach might still like him in a "next man up" situation, because since his hands are good catching the ball, there is a "floor" to his game where you can trust him to make plays within a team's offensive system. A good offensive mind like McVay can scheme the WRs open, so it doesn't matter as much whether they can create their own separation.

I wouldn't use a draft pick on Lee, but I think he's definitely worth consideration as an UDFA if he doesn't get picked.

 

[Memento]

Part 4: Draft Grade and Pro Comp

UDFA grade. (Ronnie Bell, late 7th round 2023, Niners, Michigan)

Bell played with Blake Corum at Michigan. On a team that had JJ McCarthy and a slew of future NFL draft picks, Bell led Michigan in receiving his senior season with 889 yards. The 2nd best WR only had 499 yards. Bell tore his ACL in 2021.

Like Lee, Bell wasn't a tremendous athlete. He's even a little slower than Lee. Bell wasn't sudden and wasn't a YAC threat, but he had good ball skills and was an overachiever. He's mostly been on practice squads and recently was released from the Raiders PS. He has 10 career NFL catches for 113 yards and 4TDs. As a rookie, he returned punts.

Similar to Bell and Bachman, I think that Cayden Lee can hang around the NFL for a few years and carve out a career in pro football, but it will only be on the margins. I don't expect him to ever develop into a core starter or top backup. He's too small and doesn't have great athleticism. A coach might still like him in a "next man up" situation, because since his hands are good catching the ball, there is a "floor" to his game where you can trust him to make plays within a team's offensive system. A good offensive mind like McVay can scheme the WRs open, so it doesn't matter as much whether they can create their own separation.

I wouldn't use a draft pick on Lee, but I think he's definitely worth consideration as an UDFA if he doesn't get picked.

Italics and bolded part (the comparison): if Lee never drops the ball, then Ronnie Bell isn't the right comparison. Bell drops damned near everything, especially in key moments. It's one of the main reasons why we won against the 49ers in 2024, and he's had crucial dropped passes with Michigan and against other teams as well. He has the hands of marble statues - literally the statues themselves and not the hands of the statues.

I'm not sure whom my comparison would be, but Ronnie Bell is certainly not the answer.

 

[Twopointtry]

In the most recent version of Drafttek's 7-round mock draft, Cayden Lee is a compensatory 5th round pick, 178th overall. Jamal Roberts is close behind, 6th round, 190th overall.

They give us Wyatt Young in the 2nd round, our next pick stays the same, still Drayk Bowen, a LB from Notre Dame, then we get 2 DBs: Elijah Green, a CB from Tulsa, and Robert Fitzgerald, a S from Northwestern. There are several new names in their mock that I've never heard of before. Literally have never seen those names before on any board even deep into UDFA territory, so kind of interesting how some players emerge from the darkness.

I don't agree with Drafttek on some prospects, so if the actual draft went like their mock, I'd be interested in trading down and trying to load up on a bunch of Day 3 picks. That's part of the challenge and mystery of an actual draft. You have no clue when some players are going to get picked. If you are in the 3rd rd, maybe there is a player you kind of like, but is that guy going to get picked by a different team at the next slot or will that player last until the very end of the draft?

Let's take one example. Carson Hinzman, an offensive lineman from Ohio State, is a 3rd rd pick per Drafttek's mock. Why did he go so early? Hinzman is ranked 282 on the NFLMDD consensus board, 182 per Ian Cummings, and is so far into UDFA range per Draftbuzz that he has no realistic hope of getting drafted. It only takes one team to like you, right? So, if multiple NFL teams have him as an UDFA but 1 team has him as a 3rd rd prospect, when should that team pull the trigger and draft him? I'm not even sure why Drafttek mocked him so early per their own board, because he's only a 5th rd prospect if we go by his big board ranking.