After D.J. Reed agreed to a three-year, $48 million contract with the Lions after the legal tampering period began on Monday, the Jets needed to find a cornerback opposite Sauce Gardner.
Hours after Reed’s deal was reported, the Jets agreed to a three-year contract with former Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens, according to sources. NFL Network is reporting the deal is for $36 million, with $23 million guaranteed.
Baltimore initially selected Stephens, 27, in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of SMU. After transferring from UCLA to SMU, Stephens was converted from a running back to a cornerback. But he transitioned to safety after entering the NFL and briefly became the Ravens’ starting free safety in 2021.
However, Stephens was moved back to cornerback in 2022 and became Baltimore’s starter in 2023. That season, he finished with 74 tackles and two interceptions after helping the Ravens reach the AFC Championship before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Chiefs.
But the 2024 campaign was a down year for Stephens. He allowed the fifth-most receptions (65) in the NFL, and opposing quarterbacks had a 107.4 passer rating when he was in coverage. Stephens also allowed the most targets (96) in the league and the second-most yards (806).
Pro Football Focus gave Stephens a 55.8 grade, and he was ranked 155th out of 223 cornerbacks. Last season, he finished with 70 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 10 pass deflections.
Stephens will join a Jets defense that finished in the top five each of the last three seasons. However, there’s a new regime in town after Aaron Glenn and Darren Mougey became the team’s new coach and general manager this offseason. Steve Wilks is also the Jets’ new defensive coordinator.
Stephens will join Gardner and slot cornerback Michael Carter II in the secondary. The Jets’ safeties are unclear at the moment, as Ashtyn Davis and Tony Adams are both free agents. On Monday afternoon, the Jets placed a right-of-first-refusal tender on Adams, a restricted free agent. That will give them the right to match any offer for him on the market.
There’s a potential the Jets could also move Stephens to safety, which he also has experience at.
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