After signing Lamar Jackson and Justin Madubuike to major extensions in the last two years, the Ravens will be looking to retain another piece of homegrown talent in cornerback Brandon Stephens, who broke out as a full-time starter last season.
“He’s a guy that we certainly want to keep here long term,” Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said. “It’s not without challenge. He plays a position where the best players are highly compensated, but we’ll do our best.”
The Ravens drafted Stephens in the third round of the 2021 draft, a pick that was considered a reach by draft pundits at the time. He played running back at UCLA and converted to cornerback at SMU before making another switch to safety as in Baltimore. A 2022 injury to DeShon Elliott pressed Stephens into a starting role as a rookie, and he finished third on the team with 78 tackles. Stephens moved back to cornerback in 2022 but only started four games while behind Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters on the depth chart. Stephens stepped back into a starting role in 2023, playing 99% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps and recording career highs with two interceptions and 11 passes defended.
The Ravens have a history of re-signing their top impending free agents, and they’ll likely make a similar effort with their young cornerback. Stephens may not be as eager to get to the negotiating table, as he lacks league-wide honors and the cornerback market has stagnated in recent years. With players like Patrick Surtain and Sauce Gardner expected to reset the cornerback market next offseason, Stephens may bet on himself and cash in next year.
Baltimore has dealt with that situation before. Justin Madubuike turned down an extension offer in 2023 before his breakout season and earned a $24.5MM-per-year contract that made him the highest-paid DT in the league at signing. The Ravens may not be willing to similarly break the bank for Stephens, though, with substantial sums of money already committed to Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith, and Marlon Humphrey in the coming years. The team will also need to prioritize extensions for All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum.
The Ravens are aware that the cornerback market is set to rise and Stephens could price himself out of Baltimore. Baltimore already began restocking its cornerback corps this offseason, drafting Nate Wiggins out of Clemson in the first round and T.J. Tampa out of Iowa State in the fourth. Should no extension be reached soon, the 2024 season stands to be critical for determining Stephens’ value.