The San Francisco 49ers weren’t the only team interested in second-year defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson, but they won the claim over the Cincinnati Bengals.
After the news broke that the Dallas Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, second-year defensive tackle Evan Anderson passed through waivers and is now set to join the 49ers’ practice squad. Anderson’s release came as the 49ers sought an upgrade at defensive tackle, and they weren’t alone in their interest. The Bengals were also eyeing Jefferson, a former fourth-round pick from Jacksonville, but the 49ers had a higher waiver priority.
49ers General Manager John Lynch mentioned that the team had liked Jefferson during his college days at LSU. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said the team would get to know Jefferson better over the next few days during practice:
“We’ll get to know him more. He had a lot of love coming out of the Draft, a big, powerful guy, really strong at the point of attack. He’s coming from a different technique, so we’ll need a couple of days to evaluate him better, and then I’ll have a clearer answer.”
Jefferson played fewer than 150 snaps as a rookie but faced off against solid offensive lines, including the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Philadelphia Eagles. In these games, Jefferson showed flashes of his strength, particularly in his ability to handle double teams, something the 49ers needed after struggles with interior play last season. While Jefferson may not have been a major factor in the pass rush as a rookie, his run defense was strong enough to make a difference in San Francisco’s rotation. Even if it’s just for 10-15 snaps per game, he could be a valuable asset.
Jefferson joins a group of rookies who all excel at run defense, which has been a clear priority for the 49ers this offseason. It wouldn’t be surprising if Jefferson earns playing time over Kalia Davis or eventually over Jordan Elliott, whose contract expires after this season.