Quinton

Jefferson

Jefferson totaled 34 tackles and six sacks in his lone season with the Jets. The former fifth-round pick has played with four different teams over the last four years, and will now join a fifth team in the Browns. Jefferson earned a PFF pass rush grade of 73.2 last season and will likely serve as a rotational player next season.

Jefferson posted a career-high six sacks in 14 games with the Jets this season. Set to hit free agency this offseason, the veteran defensive tackle should have a decent market heading into his age-31 season. Selected by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Jefferson has played for four different teams over the last four seasons but has totaled three or more sacks each season. He’ll be a solid contributor next season once healthy.

The 30-year-old went down in the first half and was ruled out after the break. Jefferson has been playing roughly 50 percent of the Jets’ snaps this season. “Hip” can be one of the least desirable injury designations, so Jefferson’s season could be through.

Jefferson played in all 17 games for Seattle last year, starting just three. He had a career-high 5.5 sacks and could grab a role in the Jets defensive line rotation. Jefferson’s track record with run defense is bad per PFF’s grading, but he has some pass-rush ability.

29-year-old Jefferson was one season into a “two-year deal.” A two-down player, Jefferson ended up being a major liability along the interior of Seattle’s defensive line. Jefferson has been earning poor marks from Pro Football Focus for most of his career. He could have to settle for the workout circuit in his latest go-round in free agency.

Jefferson was drafted by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He played there until 2019. Jefferson started all 17 games for the Raiders last year, totaling 4.5 sacks and five TFLs in the process. He returns home as a solid addition to a defensive line that struggled to make much happen in 2021. Seattle averaged just two sacks per game last year. Jefferson will likely play a starting role for the Seahawks in the upcoming season.

The Raiders have approximately one million defensive linemen now after ranking 32nd in rushing EPA and 29th in adjusted sack rate on defense last year. Jefferson, 28, will compete for a starting spot against Solomon Thomas, Maurice Hurst, David Irving, and other interior linemen with Johnathan Hankins lining up at nose tackle. Jefferson had 3.0 sacks and 23 tackles as a rotational member with the Bills in 2020.

This was expected as none of his $6.5 million was guaranteed. The rotational three-technique played one season in Buffalo after spending four years with the Seahawks. Jefferson, 28, has made between 23-26 tackles with 3.0-3.5 sacks in three straight seasons. With the salary cap set at just $182.5 million, Jefferson will have to settle for a smaller contract. He profiles as a part-time player.

Jefferson emerged as a two-year starter for the Seahawks after a quiet start to his career, ultimately compiling 3.5 sacks and 26 tackles across 14 games last year. The Bills will have to trust Jefferson’s medicals, however. The defensive linemen underwent foot surgery in January to fix a Jones fracture, an injury that typically takes two or three months to heal.

It’s an eight-week recovery timetable for a Jones fracture, which should allow him to be healthy before hitting the open market as a free agent. 27 in March, Jefferson is fresh off career-highs in tackles (26) and sacks (3.5) over 14 appearances (including 12 starts) ahead of contract negotiations. The Seahawks could also lose DE Jadeveon Clowney in free agency.