New York Giants 2023 UFA Primer: DB Tony Jefferson

Tony Jefferson was among several players with prior experience playing for defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to help boost the new Giants defense. Did he do enough to warrant a second contract?

Tony Jefferson, S

Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 212 lbs.
Age: 31
NFL Exp.: 9 seasons
College: Oklahoma

New York Giants safety Tony Jefferson entered the league as an undrafted free agent in 2013, signing with the Arizona Cardinals. He played in all 16 games as a rookie, earning two starts. The following year, he also played in 16 games with eight starts, but it was 2015 when he had arguably the best season of his career.

In 16 games played that season (752 snaps), Jefferson had 78 tackles, five passes defended, three forced fumbles, two sacks, and two interceptions, and he only allowed 65.2 percent of his 46 targets to be caught.

In 2016, Jefferson produced career-highs in tackles (96) and stops (35), along with five passes defended, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and a career-best 54.5 percent reception allowed rate.

Jefferson signed with the Ravens in 2017, joining future Giants defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale. That season, Jefferson started all 16 games, logging a career-high 1,084 snaps and posting 79 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble, and career-highs in pressures (11) and sacks (2.5).

In 2018, Jefferson had another promising season with the Ravens, recording a career-high six passes defended. In 2019, Jefferson tore his ACL five games into the season, and then in 2020, he was released by the Ravens, sitting out the 2020 season to get healthy.

In 2021, Jefferson had a brief stint with the 49ers before re-joining the Ravens later that year. Though the Ravens re-signed Jefferson in 2022, they released him at the end of training camp.

Two days later, he was scooped up by the Giants, who signed him to their practice squad on September 1, and a little more than a week later, Jefferson was promoted to the 53-man roster.

2022 Recap

Jefferson was primarily deployed as a sub-package safety, seeing minimal snaps (164) in his first nine games. He logged 23 tackles, eight stops, and a pass breakup in those snaps. He also conceded his worst reception percentage to date, allowing 92.3 percent of the 13 pass targets against him to be caught.

When Jefferson wasn’t being used on defense, he was deployed as a gunner, where he had two tackles in 83 total special teams snaps. Aside from his minimal usage in 2022, Jefferson struggled to make the most of his opportunities with the Giants and proved to be a liability in pass coverage.

He landed on injured reserve on October 16 with a foot injury but would return to the active roster later in the year, where he continued contributing in limited duty.

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GIANTS UFA PRIMERS: QB Daniel Jones | IOL Nick Gates | RB Saquon Barkley | C Jon Feliciano | IDL Justin Ellis | RB Matt Breida | LS Casey Kreiter | OLB Jihad Ward | Sterling Shepard | IDL Nicholas Williams

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Why Giants Should Keep Him

Jefferson has been pro for nine seasons and is well-acquainted with what it takes to succeed in this league, something the younger Giant defensive backs could learn from. He is also familiar with Martindale’s defensive scheme, which, assuming the defensive coordinator doesn't leave for a head coaching job, will be entering Year 2.

Jefferson probably won't command a large contract on the open market and might even be open to accepting another one-year veteran minimum contract, as he did last season. He offers depth on defense and special teams and is well-liked in the locker room.

Why Giants Shouldn’t Keep Him

Jefferson has not been the defensive back he used to be after his 2019 ACL tear. In 2021, he struggled to make an impact with the limited opportunities for the 49ers and the Ravens and, to a degree, with the Giants in limited snaps.

Jefferson often struggled in pass coverage when he was healthy, and this past season with the Giants was no exception. In 2017, when he had a career-high in snaps played, he conceded 78.8 percent of his 33 targets for 291 yards and six touchdowns. A season later, Jefferson wouldn’t fare much better, allowing 73.9 percent of his 46 targets to be caught for 436 yards and three touchdowns.

In 2022, Jefferson finished with his worst reception percentage (92.3 percent), albeit on just 13 targets. With the Giants having added some youth in the form of Jason Pinnock and Dane Belton this past year, the team is likely better off continuing to develop these prospects and saving the money that might otherwise be needed to re-sign Jefferson to use elsewhere.

Keep or Dump?

As noted above, the Giants should move on from Jefferson and continue their work developing Belton, Pinnock, and some of the other young players like Trenton Thompson and Terrell Burgess, both of whom are signed to reserve/futures deals.

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