Browns Select Alabama Linebacker Justin Jefferson 149th Overall
An addition to the linebacker room with a high upside athlete.
Just three picks after selecting Crimson Tide center Parker Brailsford, the Cleveland Browns went right back to Alabama’s well, taking linebacker Justin Jefferson with the 149th overall pick. Two picks, two Tide players — and the Browns walked away feeling like they found a steal with upside for the defense but an immediate special teams contributor.
Jefferson’s journey to the NFL started with a JUCO stop before he arrived at Alabama. He was the No. 1 JUCO linebacker and second-ranked JUCO prospect overall, coming as a four-star recruit out of Pearl River Community College. After limited defensive action in his first year with the Crimson Tide, he steadily worked his way into the lineup. In 2024 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.
Then came the breakout. His 2025 season was Jefferson’s true coming-out party for his draft stock, as he became a full-time starter and finished second on the team with 85 tackles, while adding 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, an interception, five pass deflections, and a forced fumble.
What Cleveland is getting is a speed-first linebacker who can fly sideline to sideline. Jefferson is a true sideline-to-sideline run-and-chase WILL linebacker with high-end speed to close fiercely on playmakers, adequate zone coverage instincts, and smooth hips and movement in space. His athleticism is elite for the position — he scored a 9.23 RAS out of a possible 10.00, ranking 269th out of 3,460 linebackers tracked from 1987 to 2026.
The fit at the NFL level is a bit less clear. Jefferson is a smallish WILL linebacker whose game is centered around his quickness and instincts, with above-average change-of-direction ability — making him likely to be a nickel linebacker who plays more situationally and with a special teams role as his best immediate fit.
The size is a legit concern for playing inside the tackle box, but Jefferson has answered those questions repeatedly with his play at the college level. He plays with a heart that is well above most linebackers and makes up for his physical limitations with the speed at which he attacks ball carriers and the instincts to always be in the right position.
At pick 149, Cleveland adds a high-effort, coverage-capable linebacker with the athleticism to have a shot to grow into a role and make that immediate impact in the special teams phases from day one — and an Alabama teammate for their brand new center.
Browns Film Breakdown will have full breakdown of the this pick in the coming week.
