With the 2024 NFL draft behind us, we’ve moved on to look at each of the Jets’ undrafted free agent signings, continuing today with former South Alabama tight end Lincoln Sefcik.
The 24-year old Sefcik is listed at 6’3” and 238 pounds. He was a third-team all-Sun Belt selection in 2021. Sefcik caught 62 passes in three seasons with the Jaguars after having originally played at the junior college level.
Background
Sefcik didn’t get many scholarship offers out of high school and headed to Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Junior College. He redshirted his first season and then caught just four passes for 33 yards in his second year in 2019. The 2020 season was then wiped out due to the pandemic.
Having opted to transfer to South Alabama, Sefcik made an immediate impact, with 32 catches for 218 yards and five touchdowns in 2021. He was named to the all-Sun Belt Conference third team.
Sefcik’s preparation for the 2022 season was disrupted by an injury and his production was down, as he had just 13 catches for 111 yards and a score. He made a better start to the 2023 season, though, with 17 catches for 165 yards and a touchdown, only to then miss the last four games.
Sefcik’s stock was rising heading into the draft after a solid pro day, but he eventually signed with New York on an undrafted free agent deal which included $12.5K in guaranteed money.
Now let’s take a look at what Sefcik brings to the table, divided into categories.
Measurables/Athleticism
Sefcik lacks ideal size to play as an inline tight end and may therefore project as an h-back or even as a fullback. Having been under 200 pounds during his first season at junior college, he bulked up to the point where he was almost 250 in 2023, but he weighed in at less than 240 at his pro day. He did showcase some impressive strength with 29 bench press reps, though.
The rest of his pro day measurables were solid with a 4.71 in the 40-yard dash, 117-inch broad jump and 4.20 short shuttle.
Usage
Sefcik was a wide receiver in high school, also playing safety at times. He says he didn’t play tight end until the last two games of his high school career, and even then he was only tasked with chipping the edge rushers before leaking out into a route.
Having been too undersized to play tight end as a JUCO freshman, Sefcik spent a year bulking up. He then found himself in a system where the tight ends were rarely targeted in the passing game and the other tight ends were bigger than him so got more playing time as blocking specialists.
The transfer to South Alabama put him into a system where he could be used in the passing game more often, but he also got reps out wide, in the slot and in the backfield. When he did line up at tight end, he was usually off the line of scrimmage.
Deep threat
Despite his experience as a wide receiver, Sefcik was unable to demonstrate any kind of downfield threat while with the Jaguars. He didn’t post a single 25-yard catch in his career and was only targeted once, unsuccessfully, on a throw more than 20 yards down the field.
Routes
Sefcik didn’t showcase much route running ability either, as most of his catches just saw him leaking out or dropping underneath as a safety valve.
Here’s one play where he initially looks to box out the defender and then breaks for the sideline, but even this is more of an improvisation than a designed route.
Hands
Sefcik’s catch rate was good, at almost 80 percent, but you’d expect that from someone who didn’t have a lot of low percentage downfield targets. Even so, he showed some ability to make tough catches and bail out his quarterback.
Here’s a play where Sefcik shows some toughness going over the middle and managing to hang onto the ball despite a big hit to the hip.
Sefcik dropped three passes in 2022 when he was dealing with a hand injury, but he otherwise only had one drop in his other two seasons with the team.
Red zone
All seven of Sefcik’s touchdowns came from inside the red zone, and most of these came on similar plays as he leaked across the formation and into the opposite flat.
After the catch
Sefcik looks pretty powerful when he turns upfield and can bounce off or run through tackles to fall forward for extra yardage, but he hasn’t really shown much ability to break into the clear for a long play.
He did not fumble during his three seasons with the Jaguars.
Run Blocking
Sefcik’s run blocking obviously improved over the course of his career and he did a solid job in 2023. He shows good effort and an understanding of angles.
Having had some experience as a wrestler in the past, Sefcik plays with good leverage and has some power when making contact with his man. On this play, he shows that he might be able to produce from the fullback position.
Pass Blocking
Sefcik saw occasional work in pass protection at South Alabama and didn’t give up a sack, although his pressure rate allowed was poor. On this play, he got beaten and the quarterback had to step up, but Sefcik deserves credit for battling to stay with his man and force him upfield.
Special Teams
Sefcik played on most of the special teams units in college and brought good intensity to the role. He made some good contributions as a blocker on the kick return unit and got downfield well on punts and kickoffs as he registered four special teams tackles in his career.
He had one special teams penalty for a personal foul.
Instincts and Intelligence
Sefcik was still learning the nuances of the tight end position throughout his time at South Alabama, but he shows a good instinct for leaking to open areas when a play gets extended.
He was voted to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society for Academic Achievement in 2023.
Attitude
Sefcik is a relentless worker who strives to get better and has a team-first attitude. However, he was reportedly suspended under NCAA and university protocols as he missed the end of the 2023 season.
His on-field discipline was improved in 2023 as he had no offensive penalties having had five in the previous two years. He did have a special teams penalty, though.
Injuries
As noted, Sefcik broke his hand ahead of the 2022 season and that apparently impacted his production during the year.
He also missed four games at the end of the 2023 season, although some sources state that this was a suspension while others say it was an undisclosed injury.
Scheme Fit
As noted, Sefcik is probably too undersized to play as an inline tight end at the NFL level. However, he could be useful in a move role, contributing as an h-back or fullback. He can be a special teams contributor as well, which helps his chances.
Conclusions
Sefcik is one of the lesser-known undrafted rookies the Jets added, but the tight end position is one where a job could be available if he can excel in camp and preseason.
While Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert are locked into the top two roles, Sefcik is competing with players like Zack Kuntz and Kenny Yeboah for a spot on the 53. Longer term, Conklin is out of contract at the end of the season and, of course, there’s always a chance someone will get hurt.
He’s still a bit of a project and relatively inexperienced as a tight end, so the main thing he needs to do now is show that he is learning and improving and then the team will be eager to consider him as a potential contributor next year.
