Baltimore Beatdown
After a breakout season in 2023, Stephens struggled to remain at such level. But does that keep him from returning to the Ravens?
The NFL offseason is upon us and free agency creeps ever closer. With it, it’s time to look at the internal decisions the Baltimore Ravens are facing in the upcoming weeks. The Ravens have 19 players set to become void or unrestricted free agents when the new league year on March 12.
And our profiles begin with the paradigm that is cornerback Brandon Stephens.
In 2023, Stephens answered the bell when cornerback Marlon Humphrey was in-and-out of the lineup due to lingering injuries. He played the sixth-most snaps of any cornerback and battled. Teams attacked Stephens in ‘23, where he faced the third-most targets (107) of any cornerback. And while he allowed the sixth-most receptions (66), he wasn’t giving up yardage easily. With such high volume of numbers, he held it down with 706 yards allowed, ranked No. 15. He allowed two touchdowns, the fewest of any in top-five targets, and delivered two interceptions ana a 79.4 passer rating against.
This looked to be his breakout season, and expectations for him the next year were to build off such a season with Humphrey back in the lineup. It didn’t go as planned.
17 games (17 starts): 96 targets (No. 5), 65 receptions (No. 5), 806 yards (No. 2), 4 TDs, 0 INTs, 5 passes defensed, 107.4 passer rating against.
PFF Defensive grade: 55.8 (No. 99 out of 128 cornerbacks)
PFF Coverage grade: 50.7 (No. 110 out of 128)
PFF Run Defense grade: 70.7 (t-41 out of 128)
PFF Pass Rush grade: 92.9 (No. 2 out of 128)
PFF Tackling grade: 60.7 (No. 54 out of 128)
In 2023, Stephens showed he could battle when being the one offenses were attacking. He fought well and contended. But in 2024, teams continued harassing Stephens and won more than they lost.
Head Coach John Harbaugh was asked after the Ravens’ Wild card win against the Pittsburgh Steelers about Stephens being the one teams are attacking.
“He is getting a lot of targets, and when you get a lot of targets, you’re going to have more completions, for sure – that’s just the way it goes – but you also make more plays,” Harbaugh said. “He’s made a real, good number of plays, as well, and also, there’s an opportunity there, too, for us a little bit, because if we get the sense that an offense is targeting a particular part of the field or a particular player, in this sense, he plays right corner, so that’s where they go in nickel.”
Of course, Harbaugh wasn’t going to sell out Stephens for his up-and-down play, but he acknowledged Stephens is the one teams were going after.
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
Stephens is set to enter free agency for the first time in his...
