Why Justin Jefferson had Browns coaches 'jumping for joy' after NFL Draft selection

The Cleveland Browns coaching staff couldn't hold their excitement when selecting former Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson in the fifth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, viewing him as exactly the type of late-round value teams spend months trying to uncover.

In a league where early-round picks carry expectations of instant impact play and big contracts, the real long-term success often comes from identifying "bargain" players—athletes who, for whatever reason or another, slip through the cracks throughout draft weekend but possess traits that can translate far beyond their draft stock. That's exactly how Cleveland views Jefferson. 

Browns general manager Andrew Berry and his coaching staff made this apparent in the Cleveland war room when calling the Alabama prospect ahead of taking him with the 149th pick on Saturday afternoon.

Browns GM and staff were 'jumping for joy' when selecting Justin Jefferson

"Hey man, we're gonna take you off the board here, we can't wait to get you to Cleveland," Berry said. "Your speed, your motor, your athleticism, it's perfect for our defensive system. I can also tell you this, I've got a special teams staff who is jumping for joy right now, that we're making this pick. But we can't wait to get you to be a member of the Dawg Pound, and we're gonna take you off the board right here."

Jefferson indeed brings the type of physicality and relentless intensity that Berry's Cleveland defense and special teams unit is searching for. The fifth-year linebacker showed this type of ability during his two seasons in Tuscaloosa when racking up 149 total tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, one interception, six pass deflections, and three forced fumbles, along with multiple special teams contributions that consistently showed up in Alabama's third phase.

Beyond the raw numbers, his impact at Alabama was defined by consistency and versatility—playing downhill in the box, closing space in pursuit, while embracing every special teams role he was given. That blend of effort and adaptability is exactly what NFL teams value most in late-round selections, especially when projecting immediate contributions on kick coverage units and developmental upside on defense.

For Cleveland, those traits validated what Alabama's linebacker film already suggested: Jefferson isn't just a depth piece, but a developmental player with the tools to outplay his draft position if he continues on his current trajectory. Jefferson now joins fellow Alabama draftee and Browns fifth-round selection Parker Brailsford, as they both look to begin their NFL journeys in the Midwest. 

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