The New York Jets new head coach, Aaron Glenn, was a Gang Green cornerback once upon a time. Perhaps that is part of the reason that the team has invested more than 150 million dollars into the cornerback room this offseason.
Most recently, Sauce Gardner put pen to paper on a $120 million mega-deal. The team used a high third round pick on the standout corner from Florida State University, Azareye’h Thomas. The final move, which Jets writer Justin Fried says “has already become painfully obvious” will not work out, was signing former Baltimore Raven Brandon Stephens to a multi-year contract.
Stephens has started nearly every game since being drafted in 2021, however, he has recorded just two interceptions over this span. Fried says his ball skills are his biggest weakness.
“Stephens has flashed intriguing traits but ultimately struggled with consistency,” Fried writes. “He started all 17 games for the Ravens last season and routinely found himself in tight coverage, yet he allowed one of the highest completion rates in the league. The issue has been his ball skills. Stephens rarely gets his head around in time, which leads to a frustrating number of completions despite solid positioning.”
The contract is a three-year deal, worth $36 million. The first two years are nearly entirely guaranteed, and there is a potential opt out built into 2027.
Reports Already Surfaced Of Brandon Stephens Struggling At Camp
Stephens will be entering his fifth NFL season and was not obligated to show up to optional training camp last month. The 27-year-old chose to come to camp, where the Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt says his stock went ‘down’.
“The same things he was criticized for in Baltimore, so far, have shown up for the Jets: He maintains tight coverage but sometimes struggles to get his head turned around in time to break up a pass,” Rosenblatt writes. “The Jets staff believes in his tools, and he’ll have more opportunities to prove himself during training camp.”
On the other hand, Rosenblatt writes that Stephens’ competition, Azareye’h Thomas, was a summer stand out. Stephens stands six-foot-one, while Thomas comes in at six-foot-two. This continues the trend of rangy cornerbacks in New York’s locker room.
Stephens Was The 153rd Ranked Corner In 2024
Stephens played in all 17 regular season games last year, recording 70 tackles for the third time in his career. He did not tally an interception, however, he defended double digit passes for a second consecutive year.
Pro Football Focus awarded his play last season a grade of 55.8. This was the 153rd highest mark of 223 qualifying corners.
Additionally, PFF awarded the corner a coverage grade of 49.6. This grade was nearly the lowest in the entire league, landing him 110th of the 116th corners graded. And, according to Fried, “No cornerback in the NFL has allowed more receptions than Stephens over the past two seasons.”
The Jets are hoping Stephens production on the field will silence the doubters of his 12 million dollar yearly salary, however, his tape certainly supplies fans with reasonable concerns.
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