Jets Claim OL Pat Elflein Off Waivers

The New York Jets have claimed former Vikings offensive lineman Pat Elflein off of waivers. The Vikings released Elflein on Saturday, just hours after he was activated from the injured reserve list due to a thumb injury.

Pat Elflein is a 26 year old, 6’ 3”, 305 pound interior offensive lineman. He was originally selected by the Vikings with the 70th overall pick in the third round of the 2017 NFL draft. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

Elflein started at center for the Vikings his first two years in the NFL, before moving to left guard last year, when Garrett Bradbury displaced him at center. He had a promising rookie year before injuring his ankle and shoulder in the playoffs. He has never regained his form after those injuries. Elflein has played just one game in 2020, in which he allowed five quarterback pressures. In 2019 Elflein struggled mightily at guard, allowing an unsightly 32 quarterback pressures in 15 games. Old friend Dakota Dozier has replaced Elflein in the Vikings starting lineup this year.

Elflein hasn’t been very effective since his rookie year in Minnesota three years ago. Expectations should consequently be fairly low for this player. It is perhaps an indication of how much the Jets own interior linemen have struggled that the Jets would even be interested in claiming Elflein off waivers.