New York Jets CB Brandon Stephens: 'It's a blessing to be here'
Cornerback Brandon Stephens spoke to the media after signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the New York Jets in free agency, and the former Baltimore Raven was thrilled to be brought to New York to play under head coach Aaron Glenn.
"It's a blessing to be here... it just felt right in my spirit and I felt like I was supposed to be a Jet," said Stephens. "[Coach Glenn] expressed how much he loves my game and appreciates my game and how he can help not only me but the team take it to the next level. We had a great talk."
Stephens, 27, has accumulated 48 starts over his four years in the NFL, all with Baltimore. He started his college career as a running back, and started his NFL career as a safety. Over the past two seasons he has started every regular season game he's played for the Ravens (33), and also has four playoff games under his belt. In those two years he had 21 pass breakups, two interceptions, five tackles for loss, and 144 combined tackles.
Stephens was a starter on a Ravens team that was a consistent AFC contender over the past few years, but he'll now join a Jets squad that is starting anew in 2025 with a new head coach, GM, and quarterback. Still, Stephens is ready for the challenge.
"I'm excited to wear the green and white out there and just make plays and give the city what they deserve," he said.
As for what he brings to the table, Stephens not only brings over his starting experience, but he also has good size for a corner (6-1, 215 pounds) and he uses his frame to be aggressive.
"Physical... that's the type of football that I bring to the table and the type of brand that not only shows what I can do but make others around me better," Stephens said of his style of play.
The analysis from Pro Football Focus backs up this physical play. Despite grading as the 153rd ranked CB out of 222 in 2024, he was ranked 50th in run defense grade and had the 14th-most in solo tackles.
Stephens will need to display that physicality and versatility quickly because he has big shoes to fill. He is now presumably slotted to fill in for cornerback D.J. Reed, who left for the Detroit Lions in free agency.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: New Jets CB Brandon Stephens: 'It's a blessing to be here'
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