The Cleveland Browns will sell at the trade deadline, and defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson could be the next player out the door. A fifth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Jefferson is a solid yet unspectacular defensive lineman who can line up as a traditional defensive tackle and an edge defender. After bouncing around the league, the veteran hoped to find a long-term home with the Browns. That hasn’t happened, as Cleveland’s deep defensive line has limited Jefferson to just one sack, six tackles, and one tackle-for-loss in five games.
Jefferson might not be able to make an impact for the Browns, but the nine-year veteran could play a crucial role for a contender. Deshaun Watson singlehandedly ruined Cleveland’s season, and it’s too late for Jameis Winston to save this otherwise talented roster. With a rebuild inevitable, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline believes the Browns could trade Quinton Jefferson for whatever they could get. Looking around the league, the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers seem like the most likely destinations.
Ravens, Chargers Could Trade For Quinton Jefferson
The Baltimore Ravens have one of the deepest defensive interiors in football, but their depth took a hit when Michael Pierce suffered a calf injury. Now on the injured reserve, the former undrafted free agent will miss at least the next four games. Nnamdi Madubuike and former third-round pick Travis Jones are still one of the league’s better defensive tackle duos, but someone must step up as the third option on this defense. The Ravens prefer to rotate their defensive linemen and keep everyone fresh, and a Quinton Jefferson trade could help accomplish that goal.
Jefferson won’t be a starter on this defensive line, but he won’t have to be. With Pierce sidelined, Jefferson can effectively take over his role and come onto the field in heavy defensive sets or whenever Jones and Madubuike need a breather. Additionally, his versatility could be a much-needed asset for a team that could use more help setting the edge. Just like with their defensive tackle situation, Baltimore has two reliable starters in Kyle Van Noy and former first-round pick Odafe Oweh, but not much else. By being a jack of all trades, master of none, Jefferson could be a valuable depth piece whose presence keeps everyone fresh and rested heading into the playoffs.
Reinforcing the Defensive Line
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is an old-school mind who wants to win games in the trenches. While the defense has largely responded to this philosophy, the defensive tackle position needs more help. Poona Ford is having perhaps the best season of his career, but the rest of the depth chart needs help. Morgan Fox and Otito Ogbonnia rank 99th and 105th in PFF grade, respectively, among 122 eligible defensive tackles. This isn’t good enough for a legitimate contender, and Quinton Jefferson could probably start if the Chargers trade for him.
At 4-3, the Chargers probably won’t catch the Kansas City Chiefs in the race for the AFC West, but they have strong odds of earning a Wild Card spot. A now-healthy Justin Herbert is playing like a man possessed, and the offense should be fine as long as he’s on the field. While adding another receiver to the mix certainly wouldn’t hurt, Harbaugh and his defensive mentality might prioritize a Quinton Jefferson trade.
Main Photo: Scott Galvin – USA Today Sports
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