Jets' most hated signing is suddenly proving everyone wrong

New York Jets fans were quick to judge Brandon Stephens after just a couple of games this season, and how could you not? He didn’t exactly come to Florham Park with the most stellar reputation, considering his own fan base in Baltimore was singing hallelujah at the fact he was gone.

Through his first two (maybe three) games, it seemed that Ravens fans were onto something. He was hard to watch. He was blowing coverage assignments and getting penalties at a rate you cannot afford from your starting cornerback.

Did Jets fans speak too soon, though? Stephens isn’t a star, nor should he be compared to Darrelle Revis. He still has more to prove. But at this point, it’s fair to say he’s developed into one of the most reliable players on the Jets’ roster.

Brandon Stephens has been very good for the Jets in recent weeks

Stephens endured a rough start to the season. Fans and media alike were quick to criticize. and understandably so. His Pro Football Focus grade failed to surpass 55.0 through the first two weeks, while his coverage grade stayed below 60.0 through three games. During that stretch, he failed to record a single takeaway and managed just one pass defended.

Things have improved dramatically across the board. For starters, Stephens’ run defense hasn’t just gotten better — it’s become a genuine strength. After a shaky beginning in Weeks 1 and 2, when he posted grades of 55.0 and 47.1, he rebounded with a 71.1 in Week 3 against Tampa Bay and hasn’t dipped below 60.0 since.

That’s a remarkable trend for a cornerback. In fact, few at his position have tackled as effectively this season — he ranks second among all qualified corners in run stops and third in overall tackling grade (79.0).

His coverage has taken a noticeable step forward as well. From Weeks 4–7, he’s averaged a 74.5 coverage grade, never dipping below 60.0 and peaking at 84.3 in Week 4 against Miami.

That kind of consistency would have seemed improbable just a few weeks earlier, but Stephens now holds a 70.4 coverage grade, the best mark of his career and higher than Sauce Gardner’s 68.7. This past week, he allowed only two receptions for 27 yards, completing a remarkable turnaround from the struggles that defined the start of his season.

Not to pile on Sauce Gardner, which fans love to do these days, but there might be an actual debate about who has been the better cornerback this year between him and Stephens. They're pretty comparable in all aspects, which is a stunning development.

There was a lot of talk about who would be Gardner's counterpart once D.J. Reed left town this past offseason. That was a serious concern. Up until a few weeks ago, it was still a concern.

But with the way Stephens is playing now, that might no longer be a concern. If he continues at this pace, he can be penciled in as the Jets’ CB2 for the foreseeable future, and that would be a massive development in an otherwise discouraging season.

Entering 2026 with a reliable one-two punch at cornerback would give Darren Mougey much-needed flexibility, something the Jets desperately need given the current state of their defense and overall roster.