Heading into the 2025 season, the Jets have made a series of moves to improve the state of their roster and overall depth, but are they ready to compete for a playoff spot?
In this series, we’ll break down the depth chart for every position group. This time, we’ll go in-depth at the cornerback position…
Projected depth chart
Starters: Sauce Gardner, Brandon Stephens, Michael Carter II (slot)
Backups: Isaiah Oliver, Azareye’h Thomas, Qwan’tez Stiggers, Jarrick Bernard-Converse
Key additions/losses: Stephens signed a three-year deal in free agency and Thomas was drafted in the third round, while D.J. Reed and Brandin Echols departed in free agency
Top Performers in 2024: Gardner had 49 tackles, nine pass breakups, one sack and one interception in 15 games
2024 ranking via PFF: Gardner was 2nd in coverage grade out of 128 qualifying cornerbacks
What Jets cornerbacks have going for them
The cornerback position had been a strength over the past few seasons, with Gardner and Reed forming one of the league’s most reliable tandems and Carter developing well enough to earn a long-term extension ahead of last season. However, things regressed somewhat during the 2024 season as Gardner failed to make the Pro Bowl for the first time and Carter saw his playing time and production fall off as he was banged up all season. Reed then signed for Detroit at the end of the season.
Even with this regression, the Jets still had the fifth best pass defense in the NFL in terms of yardage allowed, and Gardner is still considered by many analysts as in the discussion to be considered the league’s best cornerback. If Carter is healthy, the Jets will expect high level play from him, too.
To replace Reed, the Jets signed Stephens, who had been targeted a lot on a very good Ravens defense and played well in 2023, but struggled at times last season. There should be a good competition for playing time behind Stephens, Carter and Gardner as well.
Key concern for 2025: A recent lack of interceptions
The Jets intercepted just seven passes all of last season, with five of those coming in the last four games. In addition, five of those seven interceptions were by players no longer with the organization.
Gardner had one interception last year but was the only current Jets cornerback with an NFL interception in 2024. Unfortunately, adding Stephens, who has two interceptions in four seasons at the NFL level and Thomas, who had two career interceptions in college, seemingly does little to address this need.
Head coach Aaron Glenn, who himself intercepted 24 passes in eight seasons as a Jets cornerback from 1994 to 2001, has challenged his players to make more plays on the ball in 2025. Based on their recent history, the Jets may need to rely on their safeties to step up and create turnovers instead.
Player who must step up in 2025: Sauce Gardner
Even in a down year, Gardner was still very good, and it doesn’t seem to have damaged his chances of a huge contract extension as he enters the fourth year of his rookie deal. That extension could feasibly set the mark for the largest cornerback contract of all time.
The Jets might be wise to get that deal finalized ahead of training camp if that’s at all possible. This would remove any potential distractions and put the onus on Gardner to live up to his status as one of the highest-paid defensive players in the NFL.
Glenn has challenged Gardner to play with more consistency this year and could be an important figure in Gardner’s ongoing development with the success he had as an NFL player at the same position.
Biggest camp battle: Oliver vs. Thomas vs. Stiggers vs. Bernard-Converse
The Jets have a good mix of players who can compete to be the first cornerback off the bench, led by the re-signed Oliver, who thrived in a utility role last season. His positional versatility could make him an ideal addition to dime packages within Steve Wilks’ new defense.
New York will be hoping Thomas eventually proves himself worthy of a starting role, but whether he’ll be ready to contribute as a rookie remains to be seen. Further competition will come from Stiggers and Bernard-Converse, each of whom was excellent in camp and the preseason last year but didn’t see that translate into any meaningful playing time in the regular season.
If there’s an injury, or Stephens falters as some anticipate he will, then whoever wins this battle will probably end up starting games in 2025.
Overall 2025 outlook
Despite the potential downgrade from Reed to Stephens, the Jets will be hoping that the cornerback position will return to being one of their main strengths in the 2025 season. As a former cornerback himself, Glenn will no doubt take pride in how this unit develops over the course of his first season at the helm.
There are some intriguing young players within this group, and it will be interesting to see which of those step up to make contributions in 2025. However, the ultimate success of this group likely depends on Gardner’s play returning to an elite level this season.
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