Eighth-year Pro Quinton Jefferson Solidifies Jets' Defensive Front

Gang Green signed the free-agent interior lineman away from Seattle

The New York Jets have snagged a veteran interior defensive lineman to fill a void in the front seven.

The team announced the signing of defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson on Thursday, the same day that Gang Green also inked backup quarterback Tim Boyle.

The 6-foot-4 Jefferson has played 50 out of a possible 50 games the last three regular seasons, spending each one with a different franchise. He has logged 20.5 sacks and 64 quarterback hits over 89 career contests.

Serving in a rotational role for Seattle in 2022, Jefferson set a career high by recording 5.5 sacks in 17 appearances (3 starts). It was his third stint with the Seahawks, who drafted Jefferson in 2016.

The native Pittsburgher was a fifth-round pick out of Maryland and he played his rookie season with the Seahawks before being waived in 2017. Following a few weeks on the Los Angeles Rams’ Practice Squad, Jefferson landed back in Seattle one month into the 2017 regular season.

Hitting the free agent market in 2020, Jefferson signed with the Buffalo Bills. 

DT Quinton Jefferson pressures Ravens' QB Lamar Jackson in the 2020 AFC Divisional Round :: JAMIE GERMANO / ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE

He made 23 combined stops and 3.0 sacks during the regular season and helped Buffalo along the way to the 2020 AFC Championship Game. The Bills released Jefferson as a salary cap casualty the following offseason, but he latched on with the Las Vegas Raiders one week later.

The 2021 campaign was Jefferson’s most-complete season at the NFL level. Starting all 17 games for Las Vegas, the Keystone State product accounted for a career-high 47 combined tackles to go along with 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Gang Green’s defensive front had an open spot waiting for Jefferson after former Jets Sheldon Rankins (Texans) and Nathan Shepherd (Saints) left in free agency.

Rankins, who worked well alongside All-Pro Quinnen Williams, totaled 43 tackles and 3.0 sacks in 2022. The former first-round draft pick recorded at least one stop in all 15 appearances last year.

Shepherd, who was drafted by the Jets at No. 72 overall in 2018, played in all 34 games over the past two seasons.

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