Brandon Stephens had alternatives to signal with different groups in free company.
However there was a selected motive why he determined to signal a three-year, $36 million contract with the Jets, past simply the financial worth.
“Plus, it is New York. You can’t beat New York. I just wanted to be a part of the change here, be a part of what we are going to do and what we visualize doing. You know, I just wanted to be a part of that.”
When the Jets signed Stephens, 27, in March, it was met with a ton of criticism. The staff had simply let D.J. Reed signal with the Lions in free company for the same contract (three years, $45 million), and Stephens was coming off a subpar 2024 season with the Ravens.
Final yr, Stephens allowed the fifth-most receptions (65) within the NFL, and opposing quarterbacks had a 107.4 passer score when he was in go protection. He additionally allowed essentially the most targets (96) within the league and the second-most passing yards (806) of any cornerback.
Professional Soccer Focus gave Stephens a 55.8 grade and ranked him one hundred and fifty fifth out of 223 cornerbacks. Stephens completed with 70 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 10 go deflections and the Ravens received the AFC North.
However since he signed with the Jets, Stephens has been one in every of Gang Inexperienced’s higher defensive gamers all through coaching camp. He has not solely been energetic guarding Garrett Wilson and among the different Jets receivers, however Stephens has additionally registered a number of interceptions throughout practices. That features Wednesday’s follow when he intercepted Justin Fields throughout staff drills.
“Number one, coming in, I love his leadership,” Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks mentioned about Stephens. “Coming from a company just like the Ravens and the issues that he realized there.
“He has a voice in the room, but when you look at his qualities as a player, his length, his speed, his quickness, he’s definitely taken a step in the right direction.”
The Jets have large plans for Stephens. He’ll play on the alternative aspect of the sector from two-time All-Professional Sauce Gardner.
“That’s one player I’ve been talking about for the longest during camp,” Glenn mentioned about Stephens. “I imply, I can return to OTAs and the way he’s been working. He’s all the pieces that we imagined. He’s large, he’s bodily. He has actually good protection expertise.
“He’s a damn good player, and I’m glad we have him.”
Stephens can be no stranger to elite defenses. He joined the Jets after 4 seasons with the Ravens, the place he was a part of a unit that completed tenth in yards and ninth in factors per sport final yr.
The Jets had been additionally a high 10 protection when it got here to yards allowed final season (313.8). However their protection plummeted within the last 12 weeks after Robert Saleh was fired. Throughout that span, they allowed 26.6 factors per sport (twenty eighth within the league) and 337.9 yards per sport (18th).
Stephens is hoping to deliver a excessive normal to a Jets staff that hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010, which is the longest postseason drought in North American sports activities.
“I mean, it could be as good as we want it to be,” Stephens mentioned concerning the protection. “We are saying within the conferences, it doesn’t matter what the play is, simply execute what the play is.
“That comes from each player doing their responsibility, whatnot. If we continue to work out here, like I said, and continue to build that chemistry, that camaraderie, on and off the field, man, it’ll be truly special.”
Stephens can be hoping to construct a one-two tandem with Gardner that is among the greatest cornerback combos within the league. Gardner, like Stephens, is a bodily cornerback who might be disruptive in go protection. They’re additionally hoping to deliver down just a few interceptions within the course of.
An important a part of that’s Stephens and Gardner studying and rising from each other.
“We are always talking to each other, trying to just pick each other’s brains,” Stephens mentioned. “You recognize, clearly, he’s been doing what he does for some time at a excessive degree.
“I know, I would be a fool if I didn’t pick his brain a little bit and vice versa. It’s truly great, you know, just being on the same field as him, playing opposite him and just continuing to build that trust between one another.”
