CB · New York Jets vs Detroit Lions · 64 graded snaps
Replacement
Stephens flashed tight breaks at the catch point and an elite TFL, but repeated struggles shedding Amon-Ra St. Brown's perimeter blocks kept his grade at replacement level.
Stephens posted a replacement-level 62.4 grade across 64 snaps, displaying high-end flashes offset by perimeter run support issues. In coverage, he showcased excellent route anticipation against Amon-Ra St. Brown, driving on stems to force incompletions at Q1 01:09 and Q2 03:36, paired with an elite downhill tackle for a loss on Jahmyr Gibbs at Q2 10:48. However, St. Brown frequently controlled him as a blocker, washing him out on screens and driving him back on Gibbs' 17-yard touchdown run (Q3 11:06). His coverage marks were further dampened by soft cushions in deep-third drops that yielded chunk intermediate gains (Q1 01:41 and Q3 13:25).
Strengths
Driving on underneath route breaks
Triggering downhill against outside runs
Contesting catch points
Weaknesses
Shedding perimeter blocks against receivers
Allowing cushions on intermediate boundary routes
Plays that moved the grade
+2Q2 10:48, 2nd & 6Diagnosed an outside toss immediately, triggered downhill unblocked, and tackled Jahmyr Gibbs for a 2-yard loss.
-1Q3 11:06, 2nd & 4Was driven backward on the perimeter by Amon-Ra St. Brown and failed to set the edge on Jahmyr Gibbs' 17-yard touchdown run.
+1Q2 03:36, 1st & 10Anticipated Amon-Ra St. Brown's out route, drove downhill aggressively, and contested the catch point to force an incompletion.
Every graded snap · 13 wins or losses, 51 routine
-0.5Q1 11:53 · 3 & 2 · CoverageGets reached and sealed on the perimeter by LaPorta, giving Wright room to turn upfield.
-0.5Q1 01:41 · 2 & 8 · CoveragePlays with off-cushion and gives up the catch on the intermediate out route before making the tackle at the boundary.
+1Q1 01:09 · 1 & 10 · CoverageRead St. Brown's stem well, drove hard on the break, and tightly contested the sideline throw to force the incompletion.
+0.5Q1 00:30 · 3 & 19 · CoverageTrails St. Brown tightly through the catch point, assisting in contesting the catch.
-0.5Q2 13:40 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseDriven backward downfield by St. Brown's block, conceding extra yardage after the catch.
-0.5Q2 12:14 · 2 & 3 · CoverageStuck on the perimeter block by St. Brown and fails to set a firm edge on the screen.
+2Q2 10:48 · 2 & 6 · Run defenseDiagnoses the toss immediately, triggers downhill unblocked, takes an exceptional angle, and tackles Gibbs in the backfield for a 2-yard loss.
Q2 03:36 · 1 & 10 · CoveragePlays tight off-man/match coverage, anticipates St. Brown's out cut, drives forward with urgency, and contests the catch point to force the incompletion.
+0.5Q2 01:54 · 3 & 2 · CoverageTracks the route into the right side of the end zone, providing tight trailing coverage alongside Belton.
-0.3Q2 01:47 · 4 & 2 · CoverageBackpedals in coverage over the top and rallies to assist on the tackle at the sideline.
-0.5Q3 13:25 · 1 & 10 · CoverageBails into deep third; caught in deep drop as the ball is delivered in front of him along the sideline.
-1Q3 11:06 · 2 & 4 · Run defenseDriven back on the boundary by Amon-Ra St. Brown, failing to disengage or construct a boundary wall.
+0.5Q4 09:20 · 3 & 3 · CoverageStays on top of Jameson Williams down the sideline, preventing any separation.