NY Jets CB Brandon Stephens continues to prove doubters wrong

Outside of the team’s starting quarterback, there may not have been a free agent move universally hated by New York Jets fans more than cornerback Brandon Stephens.

Originally a free agent due to a disappointing final season in Baltimore, Stephens signed a three-year contract with the Jets to kick off the offseason worth over $36 million.

The move, to most fans, was seen as a massive overpay. After some struggles in the early part of the season, those same fans were seething over the apparent waste of resources for a struggling corner.

However, things have turned around for the veteran. So much so that he’s beginning to win over the same Jets fans who were highly concerned about him in the first place.

Stephens bounces back

From being one of the league’s toughest cornerbacks to watch to being a lockdown defensive back, Stephens’ journey this season in New York has been a roller-coaster.

Much like the entire defensive unit, though, Stephens has moved past early struggles to put forth good tape on the field. He’s been excellent in coverage and is even tackling at a much higher rate.

In Sunday’s 13-6 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Stephens had one of his best games as a Jet. He recorded a Pro Football Focus grade of 75.4 and a team-high two passes defended.

His play has improved significantly; it just hasn’t translated into wins.

“I think we’ve been playing pretty good ball the past couple of weeks,” Stephens said. “Each week we’ve just been focusing on building upon the last week. And I think we’ve done that. But you know, unfortunately, it hasn’t resulted in a win. What we’ve done is not enough, but we can continue to build on it.”

The improved play of Stephens has matched the successful tape the Jets defense has put together as a collective unit. And it’s something that Jets fans can at least hang their hats about.

Jets defensive improvements

At one point this season, the Jets were among the league-worst in points allowed, rushing yards, and total yards given up. After two straight dominant performances, each statistical category is gradually getting better.

New York’s overall play as a team has been anything but.

The Jets are 0-7 and haven’t scored an offensive touchdown in each of the last two games. Things have gotten so bad for the offense that head coach Aaron Glenn benched their starting quarterback in the most recent loss.

Through it all, though, Stephens and the Jets’ defense are employing the same kind of attitude many units in the past have with a struggling offense: focusing on the controllables.

“I think, just as a defense, the only thing we can control is limiting points and get off the field,” Stephens said. “We can’t control when we get on the field, but when we get on the field, it’s our job to limit points and put our best style of football on the field.”

Having an elite defense with a bad offense isn’t new to the Jets in recent years. But the improvements from the defense—after a struggling start to the year—are a significant positive for the team moving forward.

If the New York Jets can rely on Brandon Stephens to continue to be a quality starter, it’ll change the entire complexion of the unit moving forward.