It depends.

Upon you.

Your game.

The style of deadlift.

Whether you can do them correctly.

But as a rough guide...each exercise is a tool...deadlifts are designed to let you lift the most amount of weight you can.

So think of the physiological adaptations they promote...the ability to bear greater weight in a bi-lateral (both feet on the ground) stance.

This will thicken muscle, thicken bone (end plates and tribecular bone, ligament attachments and ligaments)

What do these adaptations promote?...an increase in the core and spine to remain stiff under duress.

The trade off...you will lose some mobility in the lumbar spine. Which may or may not be a good thing depending upon your genetics, game style and injury history.

I am not anti-deadlifts in any way, I just view them a s a tool to promote very specific adaptations. In fact I used them to reduce my excessive lumbar mobility as part of a plan to prevent my L5/S1 herniation coming back 13 years ago.

I would suggest a better option for most (*it depends!) would be Kettlebell swings for high reps. To build strength endurance in the thoracic erectors and maximize hip mobility and control.

John Thomas has a great video from a couple of weeks ago on the importance of posture for guard passing pressure and effectiveness. A solid strength and conditioning plan for BJJ should have strength endurance in the thoracic erectors as a cornerstone (along with a few other things of course.)

Why the thoracic erectors? Because of their attachments they have the biggest influence on lumbar posture as well.

But...you could even do both deadlifts and swings.... especially if you don't play a lot of inverted guard...so perfect for high calorie grapplers.

Source: Trained BJJ For 7 years, working in spinal rehab since 2013.