When Baltimore Ravens fans saw the New York Jets sign cornerback Brandon Stephens for three years on a $36 million contract, they knew it had the chance to be the biggest mistake of the NFL offseason. In Week 1, the move already backfired in the most Brandon Stephens way possible.
Late in the second quarter, with the Pittsburgh Steelers driving to draw within one score before the half, Stephens was attacked on a deep ball to wide receiver Calvin Austin. At just 5-foot-9, Austin was able to go up and Moss Stephens for a 21-yard reception, getting Pittsburgh down the Jets' three-yard line. They scored a touchdown two plays later.
Aaron Rodgers back shoulder throw to Calvin Austin
— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
PITvsNYJ on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/z7EE8u5B1m
That was just one play in a horrible game for Stephens. He also gave up a touchdown to Austin later, where the former Memphis Tiger shook him on a route to the back corner of the end zone. Then, late in the fourth quarter, he was flagged for a backbreaking pass interference penalty that gave Pittsburgh possession in New York territory.
It took the Jets just one game to instantly regret signing Brandon Stephens
The Ravens are all too familiar with Stephens giving up big plays. On Sunday, he once again failed to get his head around to the football, letting Austin reach over him for a big gain. He has always been sticky in coverage, but plays like those and pass interference penalties have consistently made him a negative asset on the boundary.
It is also no shock to see this happen against the Steelers. In the Wild Card game last year, then Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson burnt Stephens for a 30-yard touchdown to get Pittsburgh on the board. They seem to have his number.
Brandon Stephens gets beaten badly by Van Jefferson. pic.twitter.com/hzXsMUqF2u
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) January 12, 2025
In his place, the Ravens are lucky to have veteran corners Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie heading into their Week 1 matchup with the Buffalo Bills. While both have been plagued by injuries in recent years, they are far more reliable on the field than Stephens was in 2024. Not only should the coverage be better, but they will likely have far fewer penalties, too.
Baltimore’s defense had 56 penalties in 2024, a mark that was fourth-highest in the NFL. Stephens had seven of those; five were for defensive pass interference and two for defensive holding.
With a more experienced secondary and another under the belt of defensive coordinator Zach Orr, the defense should clean up those errors in 2025. For the Jets, they will likely regret making Stephens the 26th-highest-paid cornerback at $12 million per year.