After finishing dead last in both points and yards allowed in 2021, the New York Jets‘ defense turned into a monster. The following two campaigns saw tremendous improvement, but last year served as a step back for just about everyone involved.
Instead of helping carry the team to a better record, the defense regressed. In turn, New York lost two more games than the year prior. Everyone involved, whether previously in town or a newcomer, is looking to turn the tide in 2025.
Cornerback Brandon Stephens, who falls under the latter umbrella, is assisting in that effort. In a July 3 story on the Jets’ team website, Susanna Weir detailed that Stephens and the rest of the secondary are honed in on playing the football while it’s in the air.
Turnover Production Is Key Goal for Brandon Stephens, Jets’ 2025 Defense
As everyone knows, Stephens included, generating turnovers is one of the easiest ways to swing the outcome of a game.
“We speak in the DB room about turning the ball over and getting hands on the ball,” Stephens said. “I think that’s been a main focus for me. But as a unit as well, we know we can change the game with turnovers and just making plays on the ball.”
Stephens’ main goal is to do just that in 2025 and beyond.
“Just being able to change the game,” Stephens said. “Not trying to force your way into changing games but just being in the right spot at the right time.”
There isn’t much room to go anywhere but up. Last season, the Jets’ 7 interceptions were tied for the fourth-fewest among all 32 NFL clubs. Middle-of-the-pack clubs like the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams had 13. Only the Green Bay Packers (56) and Tennessee Titans (53) recorded fewer passes defended than New York’s 57.
In what wound up being a lost season for the Jets, they had numerous problems. Their pass defense, previously one of the sport’s very best, was one of them.
Jets Banking on Stephens & Others to Deliver a Rebound Season
New York’s hope is that players like Stephens can lead the charge for a potential bounce-back season. He has a high bar set for him, as evidenced by the three-year, $36 million contract he signed during free agency. Stephens projects to be a boundary piece opposite Sauce Gardner, one of football’s shining young stars. With Stephens not turning 28 years old until late December, this might just evolve into a sneaky-good young duo.
There are some questions to answer, however. It’s fitting that Stephens is discussing turnover generation, as he has just two interceptions in over 3,000 career snaps played. It’s one thing to set a goal; it’s another to actually achieve it. There’s also the dynamic of how he’ll transition to New York’s defense. He’s a sound pass rush (No. 3 grade out of 222 corners in 2024, per Pro Football Focus) and run defense (No. 50 grade) piece, but his coverage (174th) chops will be put to the ultimate test.
Stephens falling into place as a high-level contributor would be a tremendous start. Behind him, options like Qwan’tez Stiggers and Azareye’h Thomas need to do their job as well. It’ll take a group effort to restore order for a defense that, according to rbsdm.com, surrendered football’s seventh-highest dropback EPA/play (0.114) a season ago.
Only time will tell if the plans end up being executed.
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