The Baltimore Ravens had an incredible offseason, losing minimal talent, cutting dead weight, and adding crucial pieces for their 2025 run. One position that saw a revolving door of players leaving and entering was defensive back.
The secondary needed a complete makeover. Cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins brought their best every Sunday, and safeties Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington held it down on the back end. However, the position room outside of those four struggled to find their footing, and corner Brandon Stephens was a clear negative factor that led to Baltimore’s second-worst passing defense in 2024.
Stephens parted ways with the team this past offseason and joined the New York Jets in free agency. He signed a three-year $36 million deal, which pays him an average of $12 million per year. Stephens’ 2024 campaign was full of highs and lows, but the move is a massive gamble for the Jets. So far in camp, Stephens is looking like the same old player the Ravens saw for the past four years.
On the first play of seven-on-seven in training camp, New York’s star wide receiver Garrett Wilson made Stephens look silly, Mossing the former Raven. While Stephens had outstanding coverage on the play, it was a result Ravens fans had seen far too many times, as he failed to locate the football and allowed the wideout to make a challenging play on the ball look easy.
The Ravens won’t be missing Brandon Stephens in 2025
Stephens has always been strong in coverage. He has a knack for matching receivers step for step, but he has always been haunted by his inability to find the ball in the air. Due to that struggle, he was flagged for pass interference far too many times in 2024. He drew five such penalties that year, tied for sixth in the league. Those flags also accounted for 77 yards, a mark that tied him for 10th among defensive backs. By the looks of it, that has yet to change.
While Stephens scuffles in his fresh start with the Jets, the Ravens have a new and improved defensive back unit that looks to be the best in the NFL in 2025. To replace Stephens, general manager Eric DeCosta swung a couple of deals for veteran corners. He signed Chidobe Awuzie earlier in the offseason, and last month, the team hauled in the big fish they were looking for, inking Jaire Alexander to a contract after he was released by the Green Bay Packers.
Both Awuzie and Alexander have been earning praise from their teammates in the first week of training camp. Alexander has already made several highlight plays, as he looks to fill Stephens’ role. Both have injury concerns, but if they can stay healthy, the defense should be considerably better than last year’s group.