Denver Broncos free agency: Underrated defensive line options
Quinton Jefferson, Seattle Seahawks
One of the non-negotiables (besides tackling) in Vic Fangio’s defense? Versatility, especially for the defensive linemen.
Defensive linemen in Fangio’s system have to be able to move up and down the formation, and the Broncos don’t run a traditional 3-4 defense on every snap.
Fangio gives his defensive linemen a variety of responsibilities and Quinton Jefferson is qualified to fulfill those expectations.
Double team rate as a defensive tackle (x) by pass rush win rate as a defensive tackle (y) in 2019 for players who were in the last season of their contract.
— Seth Walder (@SethWalder) March 6, 2020
Lower qualifying threshold than usual to get a few more players in. pic.twitter.com/rcYxSA877M
This graph shows that Jefferson has proven himself to be very capable of deconstructing double teams, and that ability has resulted in 6.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss, and 25 quarterback hits over the last two seasons. He added a pair of sacks in the Seahawks’ two playoff games this year as well.
Playing mostly 3T (outside shoulder of offensive guard) or 5T (across from OT) with the Seahawks, Jefferson is a very solid candidate for the Broncos, especially considering he’s just going to be 27 this offseason.
He has developed nicely over the course of his first few years in the league out of Maryland, and he looks like he’s ready to help a team like the Broncos, possibly as a second-wave player in free agency who could wind up starting for the team at either defensive end spot.
Jefferson suffered a broken foot at the end of the season with an expected eight-week recovery, so that could be a factor in his price as well.