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.
Brandon Stephens
Expectations heading into 2024
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.
Actual role in 2024
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.
Outlook for 2025
Contract status: Unrestricted free agent
Stephens is set to enter free agency for the first time in his career after being a third-round draft pick in 2021.
Pros of re-signing
Cornerback is a position you always want more of, not less. The Ravens have far and few between been so rock-solid at the position they can let a starter walk in free agency. In Year 2 of Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr’s system and with safety Marcus Williams no longer being the one he was (poorly) back-stopped by for the first 10 games, he could get more comfortable, confident and build on.
Cons of re-signing
The Ravens have a lot of young cornerbacks on the roster with higher potential than Stephens demonstrated the past two seasons. Nate Wiggins, who completed his rookie season, looked the part of an excellent complement to Humphrey and many argued he deserved the CB2 role down the stretch.
Is there interest from both sides?
It’s assumed Stephens would want to return for the right price, but it doesn’t sound like the Ravens won’t be willing to offer that amount from how General Manager Eric DeCosta’s spoke on him at the end-of-season press conference.
“‘B-Steve’ is a great pro. [He has] an awesome attitude [and is] a great teammate,” DeCosta said. “He’d probably say he didn’t have as good a year this year, but his attitude never wavered… We’ll have to see what happens with him. He’s probably going to have a chance to test the market and see what his value is, but he’s helped us win a lot of games over the last couple of years.”
Cost?
The Ravens are rather tight against the cap and their priority will lie elsewhere. Overthecap’s valuation on Stephens sits around $4.4 million, and it’s unlikely the Ravens cut their effective cap space from $9.7 million to $5.3 million bringing back Stephens.
Conclusion
There were considerations of the Ravens signing Stephens to an extension after the 2023 season to get ahead of a possible rise to stardom; rather, the Ravens held off and it proved to be the right choice. Stephens won’t want to see minimum money and that’s all the Ravens could afford at the moment.