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Quinton Jefferson

Bills To Bring Back DT Quinton Jefferson

November 6th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Sam Robinson

By cutting Quinton Jefferson before Tuesday’s trade deadline, the Browns allowed the veteran defensive lineman to avoid the waiver wire. Picking his next destination, Jefferson will choose one of his former teams.

The well-traveled defender will return to his 2020 club, with cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reporting the Bills are making an addition. Jefferson continued his nomadic career after a 2020 Buffalo one-off, but after Cleveland cut him Tuesday, he will fill one of the Bills’ open roster spots.

Buffalo cleared up a spot by putting defensive end Dawuane Smoot on IR. While Jefferson and Smoot’s skillsets do not overlap entirely, the former will still capitalize on an opportunity to jump from a 2-7 squad to the AFC-leading club that sits 7-2.

Jefferson, 31, had drifted to healthy-scratch status in Cleveland, seeing the Browns drop him out of their DT rotation after authorizing a one-year deal worth $4MM. The Browns shopped him but did not end up finding a trade partner. He will rejoin Ed Oliver in Buffalo’s DT corps, which also includes DaQuan Jones, Austin Johnson and Zion Logue.

This return comes three-plus years after the Bills released Jefferson. Buffalo had been the former Seattle draftee’s first free agency stop, signing him to a two-year, $13.5MM deal. Jefferson played all 16 games in 2020, logging four starts during the first of the Bills’ four Sean McDermott-era AFC East championship teams. After the release, Jefferson made his way to Las Vegas (2021), back to Seattle (’22) and to the Jets (’23).

Although Jefferson only tallied one sack in five games this season, he posted a career-high six with the Jets last year and finished with 5.5 during a return one-and-done with the Seahawks. He also combined for 42 QB hits from 2021-23, providing the Bills with some inside-rushing potential after they did not make a defensive addition at the deadline. Jones’ two sacks represent the most from a Bills D-lineman this season, as Oliver has not built on his 9.5-sack 2023; the former first-rounder has one to go with five QB hits through nine games.

Browns To Release DT Quinton Jefferson

November 5th, 2024 at 11:40am CST by Sam Robinson

Mentioned in trade rumors, Quinton Jefferson looks to have been unable to generate sufficient interest for the Browns. As a result, Cleveland will drop the veteran D-lineman.

The Browns will give Jefferson a chance to catch on elsewhere, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero indicating they are cutting him hours before today’s trade deadline. By doing so now, the Browns are allowing Jefferson to pass through waivers and straight to free agency. Had Cleveland waited until after the deadline to cut Jefferson, he would have been subject to waivers.

[RELATED: Browns Trade Za’Darius Smith To Lions]

This figures to mark yet another team change for the veteran defender, who has been with five franchises since 2020. Jefferson has moved from the Bills to the Raiders to the Seahawks to the Jets to the Browns. He has two Seattle stints on his resume but most recently chose Cleveland, signing a one-year, $4MM deal. The Browns will take on around $3MM in dead money by cutting Jefferson now.

It is not too surprising no team wanted to give up a draft asset for Jefferson, who has spent recent weeks inactive. Jefferson, 31, has not played since Week 5; the Browns have made him a healthy scratch for each of their past four games. While this stands to affect teams’ interest in the ninth-year veteran, Jefferson not driving a market could also benefit him due to the Browns agreeing to cut bait early.

Jefferson is not a stranger to releases, either. The Bills and Seahawks have cut him this decade, though both teams moved on during the offseason. Jefferson had signed two-year deals with Buffalo and Seattle, but following those releases, he managed to catch on elsewhere. For his career, Jefferson has worked as a 62-game starter. This includes a 14-game stretch for the Jets last season.

The Jets saw Jefferson produce a career-high six sacks under Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich; that came after the interior defender posted 5.5 during his Seahawks return. Jefferson tallied 13 QB hits in each of those slates. This season in Cleveland, he has one sack and two QB hits. The Browns have Dalvin Tomlinson, Shelby Harris, second-round pick Michael Hall and Maurice Hurst at DT. While they are open for business beyond a few cornerstone players, the Browns have moved on from one veteran piece without making a trade.

Trade Rumors: Jefferson, Tomlinson, Browns, 49ers, Broncos, Texans

October 31st, 2024 at 1:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the Amari Cooper swap, more Browns seller’s trades are expected. Za’Darius Smith has emerged as perhaps the top post-Cooper trade chip, but two members of their interior D-line profile as candidates to move. More definitively, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline indicates the Browns will trade Quinton Jefferson if they receive an offer. The nomadic DT has not played since Week 5, with the Browns not receiving much in the way of production on a one-year, $4MM deal. Having played for five teams in the past five seasons (Bills, Raiders, Seahawks, Jets, Browns), Jefferson has been in a number of schemes and has experience at D-tackle and end. He may have drawn some interest already, and it does not sound like it will take much for a team to acquire the 31-year-old D-lineman.

One of the reasons Jefferson is not seeing the field, Dalvin Tomlinson remains the Browns’ lead DT. He is signed to a four-year, $57MM deal, and The Athletic’s Zac Jackson views Tomlinson and Smith as the most likely Browns to be moved at the Nov. 5 deadline. Being the Browns, void years on Tomlinson’s deal have the eighth-year veteran’s base salary at $1.2MM. That would make an acquisition appealing for a team, as Tomlinson has been productive in New York, Minnesota and Cleveland and does not have any guaranteed money due beyond 2024. Pro Football Focus ranked Tomlinson as a top-30 DT from 2017-22 and slots the 30-year-old 31st through eight games.

Here is the latest from the trade market:

Trade Rumors: Chiefs, Cooper, Browns, Jefferson, Bills, Eagles

October 22nd, 2024 at 5:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Reminding of the 2010s Patriots, the Chiefs have continued to pile up wins lacking in style points. They are the NFL’s lone unbeaten, though the two-time reigning Super Bowl champs’ plus-43 point differential — thanks to four one-score wins — is tied for seventh in the NFL. Kansas City has lost Rashee Rice for the season, and Marquise Brown is out for at least the full regular season. The team also lost JuJu Smith-Schuster on Sunday; the recently re-signed veteran aggravated a hamstring injury and will miss at least Week 8, Andy Reid said.

While the Chiefs do have an all-time great at tight end in Travis Kelce, albeit a 35-year-old version of the TE/podcast host/actor, they have not seen first-rounder Xavier Worthy develop into a consistent option. The team has used Mecole Hardman more, with Justin Watson and Skyy Moore reprised their 2023 roles as regulars Sunday due to the injuries. Although Kansas City keeps getting by — thanks largely to a stout defense — SI.com’s Albert Breer points to the team still being interested in adding a wideout.

The Chiefs have been linked to DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk recently but have not made a move. It will be interesting to see if an AFC team would be willing to help them construct a better threepeat bid. NFCer Cooper Kupp, however, is available — albeit for a second-round pick. With the deadline moved back a week (to Nov. 5) this year, here is more from the trade market:

  • Amari Cooper relocated to Buffalo last week, with the Browns — after having not extended the reliable veteran this offseason — dealing him to the Bills in a pick-swap trade headlined by a 2025 third-rounder. The Browns were planning to hang onto Cooper until closer to the deadline, according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. In addition to Buffalo, two other teams were in on the former top-five pick, per Cabot, who adds the other suitors did not match the Bills’ aggression. Cooper did not expect to be dealt, and the Browns did not anticipate the Bills showing such strong interest. The 30-year-old pass catcher caught four passes for 66 yards and a touchdown in his Bills debut.
  • The Bills are not shutting the door on making another move to bolster their enduring Super Bowl quest. Bills GM Brandon Beane said during a Pat McAfee Show interview that Josh Allen‘s presence, despite the team’s cost-cutting moves this offseason, continues to keep the club “all in” toward a Super Bowl push. The eighth-year GM is open to more deals, though The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia indicates a lower-profile trade — potentially for a backup offensive lineman — could be the Cooper encore. Beane added the Browns showing cold feet on Cooper would have prompted the team to keep looking at receiver. Cooper’s presence rounds out Buffalo’s receiving corps, which has seen improvement from Khalil Shakir and some recent growth from rookie Keon Coleman.
  • Another Browns player drawing trade interest: veteran D-lineman Quinton Jefferson. Teams have asked about the recent free agent signing, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes. A productive but nomadic player, Jefferson has played for five teams over the past five years. The former Seahawks draftee has operated as a Browns backup, playing in five games and registering one sack. The Browns used void years to drop Jefferson’s cap hit to $1.2MM (on a one-year, $4MM deal), giving an acquiring team a minimal prorated sum to take on in the event of a trade. The Browns should be expected to move other pieces not essential to their 2025-and-beyond plans, but Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward are viewed as off the table.
  • The Eagles received a bounce-back effort from their pass rush Sunday, preying on Andrew Thomas‘ absence to sack Giants quarterbacks eight times. Jalen Carter and off-ball linebacker Nakobe Dean led the way with two apiece. Defensive ends accounted for the other four, but the edge group has started slowly. Big-ticket FA signing Bryce Huff has 1.5 sacks and just three QB hits in six games. Going into Week 7, Breer added the Eagles — rarely shy about trade talks under Howie Roseman — may be a team to monitor regarding a pass-rushing addition.

Browns To Add DL Quinton Jefferson

March 14th, 2024 at 8:25am CST by Sam Robinson

Losing Jordan Elliott to the 49ers this week, the Browns are adding a piece to their defensive line. In addition to bringing back Shelby Harris, Cleveland will add an outside hire to its D-line equation.

Quinton Jefferson will come over from the Jets on a one-year deal, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot. A veteran who has largely worked as a defensive tackle, Jefferson has enjoyed his two most productive years as a pass rusher since 2022. The eight-year veteran has combined for 11.5 sacks in that span.

[RELATED: Browns Re-Sign DT Shelby Harris]

This will be Jefferson’s fifth NFL destination in the 2020s. The former Seahawks draftee has ventured from Buffalo to Las Vegas to Seattle to New York since the decade dawned. He will now join Jim Schwartz‘s Cleveland defense, which led the league against the pass in 2023. Jefferson is set to team with the likes of Harris and high-priced DT Dalvin Tomlinson.

The Jets brought in former Robert Saleh 49ers charge Javon Kinlaw early in free agency, and Jefferson — as he is accustomed to doing — will take his routine to another city. Vacillating from starter to rotational player during this nomadic period, Jefferson has produced consistently. After notching 16 quarterback hits as a Raider in 2021, the former fifth-round pick totaled 13 in each of the past two seasons. Jefferson, 31 this month, also forced a fumble with the Jets last year; the six sacks he notched in New York represent a career high.

Jefferson has extensive experience contributing on playoff-bound D-lines. While the Jets fell well short of expectations, Jefferson was on a postseason-bound team from 2018-22. He sacked Joe Burrow in the Raiders’ narrow wild-card loss to the Bengals in 2021 and totaled two sacks during the 2019 playoffs as a Seahawk.

While Jefferson has traveled the league following the expiration of his rookie contract, he has not signed exclusively one-year deals like Jadeveon Clowney has. The Seahawks released Jefferson from a two-year pact last year, leading him to the Jets. His work in Saleh’s defense caught the Browns’ eye, bringing in an interesting piece for Schwartz’s pass rush.

Jets Place DL Quinton Jefferson On IR

December 19th, 2023 at 7:40pm CST by Ben Levine

Quinton Jefferson is done for the season. The Jets have placed the veteran defensive tackle on injured reserve, according to ESPN’s Rich Cimini. To fill the open roster spot, the Jets have signed defensive lineman Jalyn Holmes to the active roster.

Jefferson will miss the rest of the campaign with a hip issue. It’s uncertain exactly when the defensive lineman suffered the injury, but he was limited to a season-low 11 defensive snaps this past weekend.

The 30-year-old joined the Jets this past offseason on a one-year deal. He ended up starting all 14 of his appearances with his new squad, compiling a career-high 6.5 sacks to go along with 34 tackles and one forced fumble. Pro Football Focus only graded Jefferson 96th among 132 qualifying interior defenders, although the site did give him a positive grade for his pass rushing.

The former fifth-round pick has had multiple stints with the Seahawks over the years, including a 17-game run with the organization in 2022. In 103 career games, Jefferson has compiled 26.5 sacks.

Holmes joined the Jets back in August before ultimately earning a spot on the practice squad. He’s earned a pair of promotions this season, collecting a single tackle in two games. The former fourth-round pick got into 25 games with the Vikings through his first three seasons in the NFL.

Jets, DL Quinton Jefferson Agree To Deal

April 12th, 2023 at 8:49am CST by Adam La Rose

APRIL 12: The deal will check in at $3.6MM in base value, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates, who adds the veteran defender will see $2.75MM guaranteed (Twitter link). Jefferson can collect up to $4.25MM via incentives on his latest contract. The Jets tacked on four void years to minimize Jefferson’s 2023 cap hit.

APRIL 6: Quinton Jefferson is making a return to the AFC East. The Jets announced on Thursday that they have signed the veteran defensive lineman, giving them an experienced producer along the defensive front. SNY’s Connor Hughes was the first to report a deal was imminent (Twitter link).

Jefferson has played for three teams, but is best known for his time with the Seahawks. He began his career in Seattle, operating as a starter in 2018 and 2019. His production to finish out his rookie contract earned him deals with the Bills and Raiders, with whom he enjoyed steady campaigns. A career-best 47 tackles in Vegas helped guide him back to the Emerald City in 2022, though that reunion didn’t entirely go according to plan.

Seattle ended up releasing the 30-year-old in a cost-cutting move last month. The cap savings helped the Seahawks sign Dre’Mont Jones to provide an upgrade along the defensive front, particularly in the pass-rushing department. Jefferson did, however, set a new personal mark with 5.5 sacks and six tackles for loss last season, despite logging the lowest snap share of his career since 2017.

That points to the Maryland alum being at least an effective rotational player with the Jets in 2023. New York has All-Pro Quinnen Williams in place at the heart of their defensive front, but Jefferson could step into the role vacated by the free agent departure of Sheldon Rankins. While this deal represents a notable addition on New York’s part, it might not be the only one amongst veteran d-linemen.

Hughes tweets that the Jets remain in on Al Woods, who like Jefferson has had multiple stints in Seattle. Woods has a visit lined up with New York, though a reunion with the Seahawks also may not be off the table. Hughes also names former Lion and Ram A’Shawn Robinson as a name to watch as the Jets look to continue adding depth along the interior. Regardless of what other moves they make, Jefferson is now in place as a starting-caliber option.

Seahawks To Release DL Quinton Jefferson

March 14th, 2023 at 10:55am CST by Sam Robinson

Quinton Jefferson‘s second Seahawks stint is coming to an end. The team plans to release the veteran defensive lineman, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

A Seahawks draftee in 2016, Jefferson made his way back to the Pacific Northwest last year and played mostly a rotational role with the team. But the Seahawks can create $4.5MM in cap space by releasing the seventh-year D-lineman.

The Seahawks just notified Jefferson of this decision, per CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson (on Twitter), and it comes hours after the team paid up to win the Dre’Mont Jones sweepstakes. The Seahawks are giving the former Broncos starter a three-year, $51MM deal. This has led to some rearranging, with Shelby Harris — Jones’ teammate in Denver for three seasons — also on the way out.

Jefferson, who will turn 30 later this month, played in all 18 Seahawks games last season and started three of those. With the former Bills and Raiders cog registering a career-high 5.5 sacks, it would seem he will have the option of continuing his career elsewhere. Jefferson intends to keep playing, per Anderson, and he will bring some versatility to his next team — whomever that may be.

Teams have used Jefferson as both a defensive tackle and defensive end, both in 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, making the former fifth-round pick a valuable rotational presence. Jefferson, who also added a career-best six tackles for loss in 2022, started 17 games with the Raiders in 2021 and has 48 starts on his resume.

Seattle will be retooling up front, with Poona Ford also unsigned at this point. But the team still has nose tackle Al Woods and veteran Bryan Mone under contract. Jones will be the centerpiece of the Seahawks’ updated D-tackle situation, however, with the Seahawks making a late appearance in that competition to bring the ascending interior rusher to the NFC West.

Contract Details: Koo, Armstrong, Whitehead, McKissic, Seahawks, Gladney

March 23rd, 2022 at 10:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the details from the latest agreed-upon contracts around the league:

  • Younghoe Koo, K (Falcons): Five years, $24.25MM. Koo received a $6.25MM signing bonus and will earn a fully guaranteed $1.75MM 2022 base salary, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com tweets. The final three years of Koo’s deal are nonguaranteed; none of Koo’s cap hits exceed $6MM.
  • Jordan Whitehead, S (Jets): Two years, $14.5MM. The Jets fully guaranteed Whitehead $7MM and, according to OverTheCap.com, the veteran safety’s cap hits will be $4.2MM and $10.2MM.
  • Austin Johnson, DL (Chargers): Two years, $14MM. Initially reported as having a max value of $14MM, Johnson’s deal carries a base value of that amount. It comes with $10.6MM guaranteed, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan tweets.
  • Dorance Armstrong, DE (Cowboys): Two years, $12MM. The Cowboys fully guaranteed Armstrong $6MM, and Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets his 2022 cap figure checks in at $3.38MM. The deal also features a $1MM sack incentive.
  • Quinton Jefferson, DL (Seahawks): Two years, $9.5MM. The Seahawks guaranteed Jefferson $5.2MM to return. This includes a $1.2MM 2022 base salary, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com tweets.
  • J.D. McKissic, RB (Commanders): Two years, $7MM. Enticing him to renege on a Bills agreement, the Commanders guaranteed McKissic $3.6MM. The deal includes $1.5MM in performance incentives for receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.
  • Jeff Gladney, CB (Cardinals): Two years, $6.5MM. The former first-round pick will receive $4MM guaranteed, SI.com’s Howard Balzer tweets. In addition to his $2MM signing bonus, the Cards guaranteed Gladney’s 2022 base salary ($1.5MM) and $500K of his 2023 base ($2.5MM). Gladney will count just $2.5MM against Arizona’s cap this year.
  • Rashaad Penny, RB (Seahawks): One year, $5.75MM. To keep Penny, the Seahawks guaranteed him $5.07MM. Penny will carry a $5.51MM cap number, Henderson tweets. Incentives for rushing yards, receiving yards and touchdowns could take the deal to $6.5MM.

Seahawks To Sign Quinton Jefferson

March 18th, 2022 at 5:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

Quinton Jefferson is reportedly coming back to Seattle. The Seahawks are signing the defensive tackle, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). USA Today’s Josina Anderson reports that the contract is a two-year deal worth $9.5MM, with a maximum value of $11MM (Twitter link).

Jefferson, who will be 29 by the start of next season, began his career with the Seahawks in 2016. He played four seasons in Seattle, coming on as a pass-rushing presence with 6.5 total sacks in his final two seasons there. He then played for the Bills in 2020, racking up 23 tackles and three sacks.

That was followed by another one-year stint, this time with the Raiders. Starting all 17 games last season, the former fifth round pick had a career year. He totalled 47 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. That earned him the sizeable raise this deal represents from the $3.25MM he played for in 2021.

“My old d-line coach from when I was in Seattle before is the d-coordinator now”, he said, referring to Clint Hurtt. “It just made sense to go back. My house is there, my friends too. It’ll be good to see some familiar faces”.

Jefferson continues the ongoing makeover of the Seahawks’ defense. The team has lost the likes of Bobby Wagner, Carlos Dunlap and Kerry Hyder in the front seven recently, all as a result of releases. Bringing the Maryland product back is a reunion, but also therefore part of the unit’s re-shaping.

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