Malik

Jefferson

The former third-rounder has had looks with (deep breath): the Bengals, Browns, Chargers, Titans, Chiefs, and Colts since being drafted in 2018. He’s a willing special teamer and will try to catch on to yet another elsewhere. The Colts also released T Shon Coleman and waived TE Farrod Green and TE Eli Wolf.

The team also put S Jahleel Addae, CB T.J. Carrie, LB Malik Jefferson, and T Braden Smith on the COVID-19 list, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. A healthy scratch for most of the season’s second half, Mack had no fantasy appeal before landing on the list. He should remain on waiver wires.

Claimed off waivers from the Bengals before Week 1, Jefferson had yet to see a snap on defense. He had been a mainstay on special teams. The No. 78 overall pick of last year’s draft, Jefferson doesn’t turn 23 until Friday, but his NFL candle is burning low.

Jefferson was a third-round pick by Cincinnati last year after he blew up the Combine. He wasn’t a consistent college performer and was drafted because of his measurables. Jefferson is an off-ball linebacker who can make the splash plays but also whiffs on too many tackles.

The Bengals are cutting ties with Jefferson one year after making him a third-round pick. Jefferson only played 12 snaps as a rookie before landing on IR. He didn’t show enough this preseason under a new regime to keep his spot. An 89th-percentile SPARQ athlete, Jefferson should get another shot.

According to Pro Football Focus, Jefferson only played 12 defensive snaps this season after being selected with the No. 78 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. The rookie showed 89th-percentile SPARQ athleticism at the combine but missed tackles and struggled in pass coverage at Texas. This is not a good start to his young career. The Bengals will replace Jefferson’s roster spot with LB Chris Worley.

Jefferson (6’2/236) made 29 starts in three seasons as a Longhorn, earning 2017 Big 12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year and finishing his career with 25.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks. Experienced at both middle and weak-side linebacker, Jefferson is a height-weight-speed prospect with Jekyll & Hyde tape; he missed too many tackles, struggled in pass coverage, and should have been more dominant than he was in college with 89th-percentile SPARQ athleticism and 4.52 speed. Ultimately, Jefferson profiles as a boom-bust prospect.

Experienced at both middle and weak-side linebacker, Jefferson is a height-weight-speed prospect with Jekyll & Hyde tape; he missed too many tackles, struggled in pass coverage and should have been more dominant than he was in college with 89th-percentile SPARQ athleticism and 4.52 speed. Ultimately, Jefferson profiles as a boom-bust prospect for the Bengals.