Why Browns 2026 fifth-round pick could be a massive sleeper

The Cleveland Browns and general manager Andrew Berry have once again walked away from the NFL Draft with an incredible rookie class heading into the 2026 NFL season.

After focusing most of his resources on the offensive side of the ball during the NFL Free Agency Period, Berry continued to add multiple key playmakers on offense, including Utah offensive tackle Spencer Fano, as well as a pair of highly-touted wide receivers in Texas A&M's KC Concepcion and Washington's Denzel Boston. However, despite the heavy emphasis on offense, the front office managed to add two defensive players in the most recent draft.

While most of the attention has been directed towards the team's second-round pick in Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, the Browns also managed to land Alabama linebacker Justin Jefferson in the fifth round of the draft. And despite Cleveland possessing plenty of depth at the position, Jefferson could ultimately be a sleeper pick for the Browns in 2026 and beyond.

Why Jefferson is a sleeper pick for the Browns

Jefferson, during his last two seasons with the Crimson Tide, showed plenty of flashes under defensive coordinator Kane Wommack. During the two-year stint, the 23-year-old recorded 144 tackles, six pass deflections, five sacks, and three forced fumbles. And despite standing at 6-foot-1, 227 lbs., Jefferson proved that his small stature would not affect his play on the field.

One of his primary calling cards heading into the 2026 NFL Draft was his elite athleticism that allowed him to line up anywhere on the field. This element of Jefferson's game was on full display at this year's NFL Combine, as he posted a Relative Athletic Score of 9.23 out of 10. Jefferson's strong lateral movement helped him in both coverage and run-defending situations, since he was able to cover plenty of ground.

There are, however, some concerns about his game that could affect him at the next level. Jefferson had 10 missed tackles in his final year at Alabama, and there were multiple times he struggled in pass coverage situations. Still, with newly-hired defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg's rich track record of developing linebackers, such as , the rookie playmaker is in a perfect situation to develop under the likes of Williams and 2025 second-round pick .