Jets' most criticized free agent is suddenly proving everyone wrong

The New York Jets didn’t make many long-term commitments this offseason, but when they did, they went all-in. Cornerback Brandon Stephens was one of just two players signed to a multi-year deal by the team’s new regime, landing a three-year, $36 million contract that immediately raised eyebrows.

The signing received plenty of criticism, not just because of the price tag, but because Stephens was coming off a rocky season in Baltimore in which he was statistically one of the worst starting cornerbacks in the NFL.

But the Jets weren’t deterred. They believed Stephens could thrive in their defensive system, with a coaching staff loaded with former NFL defensive backs and a clear vision for how to improve his game. The expectation was for Stephens to replace the departed D.J. Reed, who left to sign with the Detroit Lions in free agency.

So far, Stephens has quickly worked to prove his doubters wrong and has been one of the team’s most consistent standouts this summer. If training camp is any indication, the Jets’ first big gamble under Aaron Glenn might be paying off.

Brandon Stephens proving his doubters wrong early in Jets camp

Stephens has quietly strung together one of the strongest training camps of any Jets defender this summer. His performance has drawn praise not just for the plays he’s made, but for how steady he’s been in coverage.

In Saturday’s practice, Stephens broke up multiple passes during team drills, including a pair of pass deflections that earned him recognition as one of the day’s top defensive standouts, per Jets X Factor’s Nick Faria.

Just two days earlier, he forced multiple incompletions while in coverage against Garrett Wilson, including a diving breakup that preceded a celebration with his fellow defensive backs.

He followed that up on Tuesday with his biggest moment of camp yet — an interception at the goal line, picking off Justin Fields in 11-on-11 drills after a deflected pass popped into the air. This is what the Jets envisioned when they gave Stephens that hefty contract this offseason.

The knock on Stephens, dating back to his days in Baltimore, has been that he often stuck with his receiver but rarely turned his head to locate the ball or finish plays. The technique was close, but not good enough. The Jets bet they could fix that. So far, the signs have been encouraging.

The key now is consistency. The Jets invested heavily in Stephens, making him the most expensive defensive signing of their offseason. He was hand-picked by a coaching staff that includes head coach Aaron Glenn, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, and veteran DB coaches Chris Harris and Dré Bly.

Training camp has been a promising step forward. If Stephens continues trending in this direction, that $36 million gamble may start to look like a bargain.

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