The contract details have been revealed for New York Jets cornerback Brandon Stephens, the team’s second-most expensive addition of free agency behind quarterback Justin Fields.
Stephens’ three-year, $36 million contract includes $22.98 million fully guaranteed, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini. It has a $10 million signing bonus and three void years for cap purposes.
Here is a breakdown of the details, per Over The Cap:
- 2025: $1.49M base salary (guaranteed), $2M prorated signing bonus, $510K roster bonus ($4M cap hit)
- 2026: $11.49M base salary (guaranteed), $2M prorated signing bonus, $510K roster bonus ($14M cap hit)
- 2027: $11.49M base salary (non-guaranteed), $2M prorated signing bonus, $510K roster bonus ($14M cap hit)
- 2028-29: $2M prorated signing bonus per year
For all intents and purposes, this is a two-year deal with a $24 million commitment. Stephens will have a $4 million cap hit in 2025. In 2026, that will rise to $14 million, comprised of his $11.49 million guaranteed base salary, $2 million in signing bonus money, and $510K roster bonus. After 2026, the Jets will only owe Stephens his $6 million in remaining signing bonus money; his 2027 base salary of $11.49 million is non-guaranteed.
The Jets are essentially locked into Stephens for two years. If they release him in 2026, they will lose $5.49 million in cap space while eating $19.49 million in dead money. The first feasible point to part ways with Stephens will be in 2027, when the Jets would save $8 million in cap space while eating $6 million in dead money.
The 27-year-old corner was the Jets’ most polarizing signing of free agency. A 2021 third-round pick, Stephens started 48 of his 65 career games for the successful Baltimore Ravens defense, including 33 starts at cornerback over the past two seasons. Stephens showed potential in 2023 (79.4 passer rating allowed), which was his first full season as a starting cornerback, but he declined immensely in 2024 (107.4 passer rating allowed).
New York is banking that Stephens can capitalize on the potential bestowed by his physical tools. Stephens, who stands at six feet and 215 pounds with 32-inch arms, has excellent size for the position. He complements it with solid speed, as he ran a 4.44 in the forty.
Stephens has used his unique physical tools to provide sticky coverage; he forced the fifth-highest tight-window throw rate (33.7%) among qualified cornerbacks in 2024, landing one spot behind Sauce Gardner. However, Stephens must improve his ball skills for his tight coverage to matter. Stephens allowed the third-worst CPOE (completion percentage over expected) among qualified cornerbacks in 2024, a whopping 9.5%.
Stephens’ contract locks him in for two years, including a large spike in his second-year cap hit and a minimum $6 million investment in 2027. This structure clearly indicates that the Jets are confident they can get the most out of him. It is quite a gamble by general manager Darren Mougey, while simultaneously being a vote of confidence in head coach Aaron Glenn and his coaching staff.
