Jets CB Brandon Stephens excited to learn from Aaron Glenn
Baltimore Ravens defensive back Brandon Stephens against the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 25, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. Credit: AP/Jeff Lewis
Whenever Aaron Glenn speaks, Brandon Stephens will listen.
Stephens, the Jets’ new starting cornerback, can’t wait to learn from Glenn and get words of wisdom from him. Glenn spent 15 seasons playing cornerback in the NFL, including his first eight with the Jets, and made three Pro Bowls.
Glenn and his secondary coaches will work with Stephens on creating more turnovers and making him “an elite corner.” Stephens didn’t have an interception last season despite being targeted 102 times, according to ProFootballReference.com.
“Obviously it’s an area that I can improve on and that’s why I’m just excited to work with Coach Glenn,” Stephens said on a Zoom call. “He’s been there, done that. He’s made the plays. He’s seen all types of concepts. So just learning from him as well as the rest of the staff, I think that’ll be beneficial to me, which benefits this defense.”
Stephens has big shoes to fill. He’s replacing D.J. Reed, a solid, dependable player for the Jets the past three years. Reed signed with the Lions.
The Jets gave Stephens, an ex-Raven, a three-year, $36 million contract with $23 million guaranteed. Glenn likes the 6-1 Stephens’ size and how physically he plays. Glenn also believes Stephens and the 6-3 Sauce Gardner on the outside can create “a lot of issues for an offense.”
Glenn is confident that the defensive coaches can make Stephens a better and more productive cornerback. He has 32 pass breakups in four NFL seasons but only two career interceptions.
“His ball skills are something that we have to work on,” Glenn said. “That’s something that we’re going to do a good job of making sure that we teach on a daily basis with that player, because he has everything in his body to be a damn good corner, be an elite corner, because of his size, because of the physicality of that player and because he can run.”
The coaches can speak from experience. Glenn, defensive backs coach Chris Harris and assistant defensive backs coach Dre’ Bly had 104 interceptions and 15 pick-6s between them.
The Jets want to develop Gardner and Stephens into ballhawks. Gardner has only three interceptions in three NFL seasons.
Gardner, a two-time All-Pro, hasn’t been thrown at nearly as much as Stephens, though. Gardner was targeted 113 times and allowed 66 receptions the past two seasons. In that same period, Stephens has been thrown at 210 times and given up 134 catches and six touchdowns, according to ProFootballReference.com.
Stephens said “it’s not really one of my concerns” why he’s targeted so frequently and added that if the ball is thrown to his side, he has to “make a play on it.” The high-volume targets could continue with Gardner on the other side, but Stephens believes the two will be “a hell of a combo” and play well off each other.
“Length is everything for a DB,” Stephens said. “There’s not many duos in this league that have our size. I think that’s part of our advantage, whether that’s the passing game or in the run game.”
Stephens said he “did my homework” on the Jets, and Glenn and his coaching staff were big factors in why he joined them. Stephens was a part of three straight playoff teams with the Ravens and believes he can bring some of that experience and know-how to the Jets, who have missed the postseason 14 consecutive years.
“I think that’s definitely something that I can bring to this team,” Stephens said. “I come from a winning organization. They haven’t had as much success here, but I didn’t shy away from the opportunity of bringing that here and being a part of that.
“I think it’ll happen soon. I think success is on its way. Obviously, you got to put the work in and put the time in, and the results will show.”
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
