Latest news with #BrandonStephens
New York Post
20-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Top five Jets players to watch during training camp 2025
Ahead of the start of training camp, The Post's Brian Costello looks at the top five Jets players to watch: Justin Fields, QB This is an easy one to start with. The Jets are banking on Fields becoming the latest former first-round pick quarterback to figure it out a few years into his career. We'll get the early indications if he can do it in camp. Jermaine Johnson, DE A torn Achilles tendon in Week 2 ended Johnson's 2024 season and the high hopes he carried with him. Johnson will likely begin camp on the PUP list. How quickly he comes off and how explosive he looks will be monitored closely. Brandon Stephens, CB Advertisement Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens (21) practices at minicamp in Florham Park, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post The Jets gave Stephens a three-year, $36 million deal in March to replace D.J. Reed, shocking some NFL observers. There will be pressure on Stephens playing opposite Sauce Gardner.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will Jets Bench Overpaid Free Agent from Starting Lineup?
The New York Jets may have just spent a lot of money on a cornerback who could be a backup come Week 1. The Jets went into free agency with a clear mission of finding a starting-caliber boundary cornerback to start opposite of Sauce Gardner. Advertisement Just over two months ago, New York signed Baltimore Ravens free agent Brandon Stephens to a contract that makes you think they are committed to pairing him with Gardner for the long haul. His deal was worth $36 million ($22.9 million guaranteed) over three seasons. That marks the second-largest contract given out by the Jets this offseason, behind only new starting quarterback Justin Fields. Stephens' deal, however, is the longest commitment, with Fields' just at two years and all others set at one-year rentals. Sounds like they found their guy, right? Well, the move was greeted with a lot of initial skepticism from pundits online. Advertisement That includes Bleacher Report's Matt Holder, who is now predicting that Stephens won't even crack New York's starting lineup. 'The defense is looking at having at least one new starter at safety and cornerback. While free-agent signing Brandon Stephens is the favorite to start opposite Gardner, don't sleep on [Qwan'tez] Stiggers, who was a CFL All-Star and Rookie of the Year in 2023,' Holder explained. Holder had Qwan'tez Stiggers in the lineup at outside corner after he played in 14 games with one start last season with the Jets. The nickel corner spot was taken by Michael Carter II. Other free agent signings in the running for a starting job are defensive backs Isaiah Oliver and Kris Boyd. More criticism of Stephens' contract refers to his production in recent years not matching the money he was given, calling out the Jets for a massive over-pay. Advertisement Stephens' deal currently puts him as the 24th highest-paid cornerback in the NFL. "Yet, his body of work does not put him anywhere close to that tier of the position,' Michael Nania writes on Jets X-Factor. After he was a 2021 third-round draft pick out of SMU, Stephens has totaled 259 tackles, 32 passes defended and two interceptions. Last season, Stephens graded at a below-average 55.8 overall and a disastrous 50.7 in coverage, according to Pro Football Focus. Diving deeper you'll find that Stephens allowed 65-of-96 passes thrown his way to be caught (67.7%). His 806 yards allowed were the second-most among all cornerbacks in the NFL last season. All 222 of them. Advertisement Before his departure, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta sounded pretty non-committal about his free agent. "B-Steve' is a great pro – an awesome attitude, a great teammate. He'd probably say he didn't have as good a year this year, but his attitude never wavered. … He's a free agent, so there is a lot of pressure on him in his mind. We'll have to see what happens with him." What happened? The New York Jets threw him a bag. For $12 million a season, $36 million over three years, and nearly $23 million guaranteed? Fans better hope what happens next is Stephens proves his contract's worth with improved play this season. Advertisement That is, assuming New York will try to get their money's worth by putting him in the starting lineup. After all, new head coach Aaron Glenn is one of the franchise's best cornerbacks ever. Maybe he can fix Stephens' game. If not? The Jets may have the most expensive backup cornerback in the NFL. Related: Jets Earn Surprising Offseason Grade As Glenn Lays Foundation Related: Jets Make Stunning Decision To Cut 16-Year Veteran With All-Pro Resume
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Brandon Stephens was solid but Ravens' fans are happy he's stepping
New York Jets' defensive back Brandon Stephens wasn't exactly the piece the Baltimore Ravens hoped he would be for their pass defense last season. Stephens, however, might be a better fit with the Jets, who already have all-pro Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed playing on the outside. BALTIMORE, MD - NOVEMBER 07: Brandon Stephens #21 of the Baltimore Ravens lines up before the snap during an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on November 7, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by) Stephens is a quality No. 3 defensive back. Still, with Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey deployed on the inside often, Stephens spent a lot of snaps on the outside against the more physical wide receivers in the NFL. When the going got tough, Stephens was frequently outmatched. Ravens defensive coordinator benched Stephens in the AFC Divisional Round and put in Tre'Davious White when Stephens gave up a crucial reception in the first-half loss. Gardner and Reed will handle the island work for Stephens in New York, allowing him to use his physicality against shifty slot targets and backs coming out of the backfield. Stephens did feature 70 total tackles last season, but with only 10 pass deflections, the Ravens need a defensive back with skills more suited to defending the air game. Time will tell how things unfold for the defense in the future and whether or not General Manager Eric Decosta drafts at this position. For now, Stephens will enjoy his new team alongside all-pro defensive teammates. This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Brandon Stephens was solid but Ravens' fans are happy he's stepping
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Brandon Stephens was solid but Ravens' fans are happy he's stepping
Brandon Stephens was solid but Ravens' fans are happy he's stepping Being good wasn't good enough for Brandon Stephens and the Baltimore Ravens who fell short in 2024. New York Jets' defensive back Brandon Stephens wasn't exactly the piece the Baltimore Ravens hoped he would be for their pass defense last season. Stephens, however, might be a better fit with the Jets, who already have all-pro Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed playing on the outside. Stephens is a quality No. 3 defensive back. Still, with Ravens defensive back Marlon Humphrey deployed on the inside often, Stephens spent a lot of snaps on the outside against the more physical wide receivers in the NFL. When the going got tough, Stephens was frequently outmatched. Ravens defensive coordinator benched Stephens in the AFC Divisional Round and put in Tre'Davious White when Stephens gave up a crucial reception in the first-half loss. Gardner and Reed will handle the island work for Stephens in New York, allowing him to use his physicality against shifty slot targets and backs coming out of the backfield. Stephens did feature 70 total tackles last season, but with only 10 pass deflections, the Ravens need a defensive back with skills more suited to defending the air game. Time will tell how things unfold for the defense in the future and whether or not General Manager Eric Decosta drafts at this position. For now, Stephens will enjoy his new team alongside all-pro defensive teammates.
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
2025 NFL free agency: Contract details for New York Jets CB Brandon Stephens
2025 NFL free agency: Contract details for New York Jets CB Brandon Stephens The New York Jets have put their secondary hopes in the hands of Brandon Stephens. The 28-year-old cornerback was signed to a three-year deal during the first wave of the NFL's 2025 free agency period. The ideal scenario for the Jets would be Stephens seamlessly replacing DJ Reed who left the team during free agency. Until we see Stephens take on that challenge, what many in New York will most be curious about is the contract details relating to the contract he signed. Those deeper numbers have been released. Stephens signed a $36 million contract for those three years. Parts of that will involve various bonuses such as the $10M signing bonus he earned, along with various other factors. What usually matters most to fans is the impact on the salary cap. Mixed into Stephen's deal to help the Jets handle those salary cap numbers are three void years. There are three additional years past the three Stephens agreed to play for the Jets that will hit the team's salary cap from 2028 to 2030 which helps lower his cap numbers. According to Over The Cap, the Jets have backloaded Stephens' three-year deal. His salary cap his are: 2025: $4 million 2026: $14 million 2027: $14 million Factoring in the dead-cap hits, the number tacked onto the Jets' salary cap if New York decided to cut him at any time, Stephens essentially has signed a two-year contract. Stephens dead-cap hits are massive those first two years, $22.9M and $19.5M, respectively. That changes in 2027 as his dead cap drops to $6M. Essentially if the Jets released Stephens in 2025 or 2026, the team would add near $19M and $5.5M in salary cap hits, respectively. In 2027, the Jets can cut Stephens and create $8M in cap space. It's likely in 2027 that the Jets will take one of two routes: Cut Stephens and take that space, or sign him to an extension because they want to keep him while also manuvering his salary cap hit to create salary cap space. Jets Wire will continue to provide updates throughout the 2025 offseason.
