I think that will end up being the case. Stephens has a similar point you've been making about Fields, except with Fields I can point to last year where he had a solid rating plus one game out of two this year, where he was excellent. Pitts fans and even some Chicago fans didn't want Fields to leave. With Stephens, according to all rating systems, he sucked last year and sucked in every game this year. Baltimore fans to a man wanted to have none of him, and were thrilled he left. The only small hope was that AG gets a benefit of the doubt since he was a DB himself, but after what I have seen so far, that benefit is gone. We need to face the reality: if Baltimore coaches could not fix him after 4 years, it's very unlikely anyone can. That was a terrible move by Mooge and AG. The money we guaranteed to Stephens cannot be undone, but the good news is that Mooge seems to have realized he fucked up and is trying to fix it. If between Brownlee and AZ we can get an OK starter with some upside, and Stephens as depth and maybe even some safety play, we are going to be better off. 6th round for 7th swap is a small price to pay for that.
yeah I don’t have a huge issue with the late round pick swap at all…picks in the 6th and 7th rounds, and even into the 5th round, are crap shoots regardless…most of those picks don’t pan out…so if you can get a guy you think can play for a late round pick swap I have no issue there
Just by calling him a special teamer at best shows how little you know about him. For one, he is immediately a better tackler against the run that any of the CB with have. Accepting failure with Stephen’s and trying to correct the issue is not a negative but a plus. If anything, this move is a steal. Signing Stephens was a huge mistake, unless we move him to safety and see what he can do.
I totally agree that the Stephens contract was a huge blunder. $36M with $23M guaranteed for a guy the Ravens couldn't wait to get rid of. Moog gets the Mike Macagnan award for bidding against himself for a guy that would not have gotten HALF that much elsewhere. Going into the season the jets had Sauce (1), Stephens(2), Stiggers(3), 3rd rounder Thomas (4) , and Carter (5). Then they poached CB Korie Black (6) off the Giants practice squad and he was activated for game 2. Add Brownlee (7) to the mix. How may CBs can a team play? My opinion only, but I really doubt Glenn benches Stephens AT ALL this year given the HUGE contract Moog gave him. It would be a HUGE embarrassment to the jets current GM Moog for the new coach to bench a guy who was just guaranteed $23M. Stephens SHOULD be benched, but I doubt Glenn has the balls to do that since it would make Moog look REALLY STUPID for guaranteeing THAT much money for a bench sitter. If healthy, no matter how bad he plays, I think Stephens will start there all year because he was guaranteed so much money.. Only if Moog tells or suggests Glenn to bench Stephens will THAT happen. Also, if the jets bench Stephens or move him to safety (unlikely), why is Brownlee next up? Stiggers and Thomas worked their butts off all summer in this system, and Black was active for game 2. Yet a new guy like Brownlee gets the start? OK, could happen but that basically throws Moog under the bus again for Glenn not turning the 3rd round pick Thomas. Why did Moog use a high 3rd round pick on Thomas if he can't even hold off a castoff CB from a last place team like the Titans? I personally would rather see Thomas get the start over Stephens or Brownlee right now because I think he has more potential (the Vikings had him as a potential late first round pick). It would really be a blow to the confidence of Thomas if he and Stephens sat while Brownlee plays. Yeah Brownlee is ok pickup but I would not have swapped picks to get him. The jets are already without a 3rd rounder next year. Brownlee was a unwanted CB on the last place Titans-- We did not just pick up Revis in his prime. Feel free to respond again--you can have the last word.
The most ideal scenario I think is if AZ takes over as a CB2 starter and Brownlee replaces MC2 at Nickel, and performs better there as I heard quite a few Titans fans say he is a better fit at NB due to his size. Then Stephens and MC2 will be on the bench where they belong as a rotational CBs and as back-ups to starters.
Could not agree more. Too bad the jets can't recognize the obvious. When a new GM and a new head coach take over a team, I think the coach is under a lot of pressure not to bench the new GM's big money signing (Stephens) , not matter how bad he plays. My prediction is that Glenn will keep playing Stephens hoping to make Moog's signing look wise. Stephens will continue to stink, and be a post-June 1 release in 2026. Let's hope I'm wrong and Glenn is not afraid to put Stephens on the bench. Why DID Moog give him so much guaranteed money when the Ravens didn't even want him back?
Why keep Echols or JBC, when we can vastly overpay for Stephens and then trade for a subpar player ? Cisco blows too.
I think this is a realistic future of the position. Unless something really changes, Stephens will be one and done here, maybe benched eventually, and MC2 will be cut if not traded mid-season.
Yep--Glenn/Moog will not be afraid to sit/cut MC2 because Douglas is the one who gave him the big money. However since Moog gave Stephens the huge guaranteed contract, he'll likely play all season and get quietly released after June 1, 2026.
I completely agree with your take. I’m not saying start Brownlee over our rookie. Although I see Brownlee rotating as a nickel corner or even start eventually against run heavy teams. Carter is just not cutting it. I would be extremely disappointed in the CS if they don’t make a change at Corner and move Stephens to the bench.
Actually I just checked OvertheCap and looks like even as a Post June 1st cut next year, Stephens would count for $13mil of dead money and like $500k of cap savings. What the hell was Mougey thinking with that contract?? That dude was a 1-year prove-it or an easy-out in year 2. Who the hell was competing to sign this guy after the year he had? Looks like they're stuck with him 2026 too. Just have to hope he can turn a corner...
Yeah, there is 0 benefit in cutting him before two years are up. His deal is basically two years guaranteed, and 3d year team option. I was saying this exact thing about 1 year prove deal after pretty poor season he just had when we 1st signed him. Mooge and AG fucked up there, as simple as that, and I am not just saying this in hindsight. In some cases looks like they felt they new better than everyone else. Everyone could see Stephens, Gipson, and Clemons sucked based on years of experience, but they thought they would coach them up to be amazing. The moves to get Phillips, Briggs, and Brownlee however are in a different mold, which is a good news. We are getting players who are actually decent, and their fan bases are not very happy to lose them. We need more of these.
