Justin Jefferson NFL Draft 2026 Scouting Report for Cleveland Browns LB

Matt HolderFeb 2, 2026

The Cleveland Browns selected Alabama LB Justin Jefferson with the No. 149 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

Justin Jefferson is an impressive athlete who has the ball skills and production to contribute as a coverage linebacker and special teamer in the NFL. Jefferson is a sure tackler who shows promise as a run defender, making him an intriguing developmental prospect as an early Day 3 pick.

The 6'0", 223-pound prospect went to Alabama as the No. 1 JUCO linebacker, second-ranked JUCO prospect overall and a 4-star recruit in 2023. He didn't see the field much defensively in his first year with the Crimson Tide, but he was a significant contributor on special teams.

In 2024, the Memphis native took on a bigger role defensively. He served as a rotational player and made three starts while collecting 60 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and a pass defended.

This past season was Jefferson's breakout campaign, as he became a full-time starter. He finished second at Alabama with 85 tackles, in addition to 6.5 TFLs, three sacks, an interception, five PDs and a forced fumble.

Matt Holder has been a part of B/R's Scouting Department for four seasons. He also writes about the Las Vegas Raiders and NFL draft for SB Nation's Silver and Black Pride, and co-hosts a YouTube Channel, Tape Don't Lie, providing film breakdowns and more draft prospect analysis.

Highlights

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Scroll down for the full scouting report.

Where He Wins

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- Impressive overall athlete with good speed and lateral movement skills.

- Quick to get to his area in zone coverage. Uses his hands well to disrupt the timing of routes and uses his agility well to tighten throwing windows. Also has the speed to carry the seam when playing Tampa 2.

- Solid acceleration to help click and close in coverage.

- Athleticism allows him to stay in phase against most tight ends.

- Quick to key and diagnose gap runs as a run defender and can beat offensive linemen to the spot.

- Solid at playing the receiver's hands at the catch point to force incompletions. Had good ball production for a linebacker this past season.

- Takes on blocks with his hands and has decent physicality to help get some extension on blocks.

- Consistently wraps up when tackling, leading to very few misses.

- Good closing speed on the quarterback when blitzing, allowing him to get sacks as a free rusher.

Areas of Improvement

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- Has a lean frame and needs to add weight to be a stouter run defender. Often gets pushed out of his gap against offensive linemen and good blocking tight ends. Will give up extra yards after contact when tackling bigger running backs.

- Also has trouble getting off blocks due to his lack of size and strength.

- Angles toward the sideline and in pursuit could use some work. Often gets caught being too deep.

- Subpar awareness and spacing in zone. Has a habit of drifting out of his area or playing too shallow to help take away crossing routes.

- Ability to read a quarterback's eyes is a work in progress.

- Doesn't plaster to his man on scramble drills and will get caught converging on the quarterback too quickly.

- Hasn't shown any pass-rush moves as a blitzer. Overly reliant on being unblocked to get pressure.