The Ravens starting cornerback is headed to the New York Jets.
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the New York Jets have agreed to terms with Baltimore Ravens free agent cornerback Brandon Stephens on a three-year, $36 million deal.
Stephens, 27, was a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, and was a bit of a surprise to many. But through physical play and a knack for being around the ball, he showed his worth.
Since 2021, Stephens played in 65 games and started 48, including all 17 in 2024.
In 2023, Stephens stepped up with cornerback Marlon Humphrey repeatedly dealing with injuries and demonstrated his worth as a starting cornerback in a challenging AFC North division riddled with star receivers. But his follow-up campaign in 2024 showed regression. He allowed the fifth-most targets (96) and receptions (65) of any cornerback, allowed the second-most yards (806) and was graded No. 110 of 128 cornerbacks in 2024 by Pro Football Focus.
The writing was on the wall for Stephens to be looking for a lucrative market elsewhere after General Manager Eric DeCosta was asked about Stephens’ season and future.
“‘B-Steve’ is a great pro. [He has] an awesome attitude [and is] a great teammate. He’d probably say he didn’t have as good a year this year, but his attitude never wavered,” DeCosta said in January. “He’s probably going to have a chance to test the market and see what his value is, but he’s helped us win a lot of games over the last couple of years.”
With Stephens gone, the door is rightly open for 2024 first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins to see the field as he demonstrated significant strides in his development and the team’s confidence down the stretch of last season.