Jordan Jefferson

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		8	1.0	12	0.5
2025		2	—	—	—
2024		8	1.0	12	0.5

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Cincinnati Bengals locked up a legitimate steal with Jordan Jefferson's four-year, $4.8M extension, a deal that earns an impressive A- CVI based on exceptional value relative to production. At just $1.2M annually, Jefferson delivers rotational defensive tackle play at a fraction of what similar contributors typically command in today's market, where even backup interior linemen routinely pull $3-4M per year. The modest $0.8M guarantee keeps Cincinnati's downside risk virtually nonexistent while securing a reliable rotation piece through his prime years. This contract structure gives the Bengals the flexibility to develop Jefferson into a larger role without the pressure of a bloated salary, and if he plateaus as a rotational player, they're still getting above-average value at the position. Jefferson's deal represents exactly the type of shrewd roster building that allows teams to allocate premium dollars elsewhere while maintaining quality depth along the defensive front.

Performance Analysis

Jordan Jefferson is a second-year defensive tackle with the Cincinnati Bengals who remains very much a work in progress at just 24 years old, having appeared in only 8 career games since entering the league. For a position where availability and staying on the field are the foundational requirements, Jefferson's limited exposure tells the story of a player who has yet to establish himself as a reliable presence in the rotation — let alone a consistent contributor up front. His 12 career tackles and 1 sack reflect the modest impact of someone still earning snaps rather than commanding them, and Cincinnati's defensive line has not yet needed to lean on him in any meaningful way. At this stage, Jefferson grades out as a developmental prospect at best, and the Bengals are likely managing him carefully while evaluating whether his physical tools can translate into genuine NFL production. The key question surrounding Jefferson heading into the next phase of his career is straightforward: can he stay healthy and active enough to build the kind of sustained experience that interior defenders need to develop their game? Teams invest in young tackles with the understanding that refinement takes time, but the window for patience is not unlimited. Jefferson's next opportunity to log consistent games will be the most important indicator of whether he has a future as a rotation piece in Cincinnati or quietly fades from the roster conversation altogether.

Current Sentiment

Jordan Jefferson enters the 2026 season with a modest professional profile, having been claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals following his release from the San Francisco 49ers — a transaction that underscores his current standing as a depth piece rather than a featured contributor. With just one career sack across two NFL seasons and a minimum-range contract, Jefferson has yet to establish himself as a reliable rotational presence at the defensive tackle position. The waiver claim by Cincinnati suggests the Bengals see developmental or depth value in him, but the circumstances of his arrival — cut by one team and picked up by another — do little to elevate his media profile. Fan and media attention surrounding Jefferson is largely incidental, appearing primarily in roster projection pieces rather than as a focal point of any meaningful coverage. Heading into 2026, Jefferson faces a competitive roster battle and will need a strong training camp and preseason to carve out a defined role on Cincinnati's defensive line.