As players prepare for practice and trickle out onto the fields, DT Quinton Jefferson is normally already out on the field working through some extra conditioning. A half hour after practice is over, Jefferson is still out on the practice fields putting in extra work on the bags and focusing on his steps and his hand movements.
At first, it was only him working by himself. But as the offseason program and then training camp has continued, younger defensive linemen have joined Jefferson for the extra session.
Those extra workouts before and after practice stem from his mentality of working like he's still a rookie.
"I try to stay engaged, kind of keep going, try to keep that same hunger," Jefferson said. "And again, I had older guys who taught me a lot and I try to just each one teach one, how can I not when I had guys take the time to show me stuff? So, I try to do the same thing. Hopefully, they catch on when they're a little older and they do the same thing. It's a family. When you're a D-line, it's a family. It's a unit and you try to connect with guys because it helps you when you're out there to dig a little deeper and play a little harder. I'm just trying to help the best I can."
The addition of young players to his pre- and post-practice work started mutually. Jefferson said he always intended to be out on the field, but as younger players expressed interest and asked questions as to what he was doing on the field, he invited them along to join.
Coming up through the league, Jefferson had players like Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril who provided him with a similar example. When Jefferson was drafted by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, he experienced a culture in Seattle of players who went about their work. He saw his teammates putting in extra work before and after practice, knew their history of winning a Super Bowl in 2013 and wanted to imitate them.
Jefferson said one of the biggest elements was creating a routine. He's seen how the advantages of a routine lead to consistency and to sustaining a long career in the NFL and wants to pass down that knowledge to his younger teammates.
Check out photos of the team during the tenth day of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Tight end Jordan Akins (88) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden (83) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Center Ethan Pocic (55) and Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. (23) and Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Safety Rodney McLeod Jr. (12) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive Line Coach Jacques Cesaire during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson (17) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive tackle Siaki Ika (62) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) and the offense during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Wide receiver James Proche II (11) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back John Kelly Jr. (41) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back Nick Chubb (24) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Isaiah Thomas (96) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Linebacker Caleb Johnson (48) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Alex Wright (91) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Callie Brownson during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Wide receiver David Bell (18) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive tackle Quinton Jefferson (72) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Safety Ronnie Hickman Jr. (33) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Jeremiah Martin (60) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Sam Kamara (92) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Quarterback Jameis Winston (5) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Offensive Coordinator Ken Dorsey during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Quarterback Tyler Huntley (10) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back Pierre Strong Jr. (20) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Wide receiver Michael Woods II (81) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Tight end David Njoku (85) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running Backs Coach Duce Staley during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
General Manager Andrew Berry during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Running back Aidan Robbins (49)during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst II (90) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (54) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Safety Chris Edmonds (41) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Assistant Athletic Trainer Pat Rock during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
Cornerback Kahlef Hailassie (25) and Cornerback Tony Brown (38) during Day 10 of Training Camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on August 6, 2024.
His mentorship is one of the reasons defensive line coach Jacques Cesaire was excited about bringing Jefferson to the Browns. Cesaire coached Jefferson in Buffalo in 2020 and saw that leadership from him with the Bills. Since then, he's followed Jefferson's career and noted how he continued to grow as a dynamic interior pass rusher who can play and the run and rush the passer.
"He did a great job of just doing the technique and doing it exactly the way we wanted him to do it," Cesaire said. "And also, he's just a great leader. He's played in this system for a long time. He's played in the NFL for a long time. He's a heck of an interior rusher, but he does a good job with those young guys of making sure they understand the technique and how to rush in the NFL – but most importantly, how to rush to win in the NFL."
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has also witnessed how on the field, Jefferson sets the tempo for the defense and the younger players. But he's also taken note of the extra practice time Jefferson has put in since his arrival in Cleveland.
"A lot of times I'm already showered, called my wife, and in my office and I look out and Quinton is still working on the field," Schwartz said. "And a lot of times he has a young guy with him when he's doing that. That's extremely important to us, and I'm proud of him for that."
Since Jefferson has joined the defensive line – one that is packed with talent with reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Myles Garrett, three-time Pro Bowler DE Za'Darius Smith, 10-year veteran DT Shelby Harris and eight-year veteran DT Dalvin Tomlinson – he's witnessed how the attack-style defensive scheme benefits the Browns due to the talent of his teammates and how they attack each play.
The defensive line has dealt with some injuries during the early days of training camp, with Tomlinson on the active/non-football injury list and Harris out with an undisclosed injury. Jefferson said once they are all healthy and on the field together, it will help them learn the feel of how they all rush and how they can play off of one another.
Yet, even with a healthy defensive line, there's a place for Jefferson among the unit– especially as Schwartz rotates his defensive linemen.
"It means a lot because without me there, it's already a great defensive line," Jefferson said. "The fact that they thought I can come in and add anything, I appreciate that. And with that, I know that there comes a high standard. I want to even raise my game to meet that standard and I know ultimately, we want to be the best defense and defensive line in the NFL. So that's the goal."
Schwartz also holds a reputation of elevating defensive tackles and their level of play. After coming off a 2023 season in which Jefferson only played 14 games with the Jets after he suffered a torn groin, he believes he has the potential for a 10-sack season. Jefferson set a career-high in sacks in 2023 with six total sacks. Now healthy and in a new defensive scheme that is attack-focused, Jefferson sees his potential for growth.
"I want to be a 10-sack guy," Jefferson said. "And this is the defensive scheme to do it. Schwartz, he loves defensive linemen, always puts us in position to make plays. We always have an aggressive mindset. So, using my skillset – which is my athleticism – I'm excited for the opportunity."
