Justin Jefferson is a linebacker drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2026 after a junior-college-to-Alabama path that ended with him starting at middle linebacker for the Crimson Tide.
Justin Jefferson is a linebacker out of Alabama, not to be confused with the All-Pro wide receiver of the same name. A Memphis native, he took a winding road from junior college to Tuscaloosa before the Browns selected him in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Cleveland prized his speed, range and special-teams value.
Path to the league
A no-star recruit out of Memphis, Tennessee, Jefferson enrolled at East Mississippi Community College, where he posted 57 tackles as a freshman and 86 as a sophomore. He transferred to Alabama ahead of the 2023 season as one of the top junior-college players in his class and received an extra year of eligibility because he began in JUCO.
Career highlights
At Alabama, Jefferson worked his way up the depth chart, stepping in for an injured Deontae Lawson during the 2024 season. In 2025 he locked down the starting middle linebacker job and finished second on the team with 85 tackles, adding 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, six passes defensed, an interception and a forced fumble across 15 starts.
2025 season
Jefferson's full-time starting season at Alabama in 2025 set up his pro arrival. The Browns selected him with the No. 149 overall pick in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, with general manager Andrew Berry calling him a 'DNA match' for a defense that prioritizes speed and range and citing his kicking-game value, per the team.
Sources
- Cleveland Browns: 5 things to know about LB Justin Jefferson, Browns No. 149 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft
- ESPN: Justin Jefferson player page
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Linebacker
- Group
- defense
- College
- Alabama
- Hometown
- Memphis, TN, USA
- Status
- active
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