The scholarship is over.
New York Jets second-year cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers is firmly “on the [roster] bubble” heading into training camp.
“The previous staff was high on Stiggers’ potential, and he thrived in training camp last year. But the Jets also signed a free agent corner, drafted one early, and re-signed [Isaiah] Oliver. This is a completely new staff — Stiggers will have to prove himself all over again. His ability on special teams should help,” Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic said.
Stiggers Will Have to Let His Play on the Field Do the Talking
The former Canadian Football product got his first taste of the NFL in 2024.
He appeared in 14 games and made one start. Stiggers only played 5% of the defensive snaps in 2024.
It was never going to be an easy transition for Stiggers. He was supposed to play football at Lane College, but the sudden death of his father changed his plans.
“He was supposed to attend Lane College, a Division II school in Jackson, Tennessee, but he paused his football career and returned home to Atlanta to help support his family (13 siblings) when his father died after several months in a coma because of injuries from a car crash,” ESPN’s Rich Cimini explained.
Stiggers eventually resumed his football career in FCF [Fan Controlled Football], a seven-on-seven indoor league. He turned some heads at that level, which piqued the interest of the CFL.
“Not only did he make the team, but he recorded five interceptions and became the first defensive back in 25 years to win the CFL’s rookie of the year,” Cimini revealed.
From no college to FCF to the CFL now to the NFL, what a wild ride. Stiggers better learn quick, because it’s a what can you do for me now league.
He has three years remaining on his $4.2 million contract.
Enunwa Is Predicting a Stiggers Breakout Season in 2025
“I’m going to go to the defensive side, I’m going Qwan’tez Stiggers. This is a guy who has been able to learn from Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and he has great length and size. I want to see him really go out there and compete for some playing time this year,” former Jets wide receiver Quincy Enunwa said when asked to predict a breakout candidate for 2025.
I hope you’re ready Sauce Gardner…@qwanb5stiggers told @cghendy that he’s about to be @iamSauceGardner’s best friend with how much he wants to learn from him & be around him this offseason 🤣
🎥 @nyjets #JetUp #NFLDraft #Jets pic.twitter.com/W4MSPpWgQi
— Paul Andrew Esden Jr (@BoyGreen25) April 29, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js
NFL Insider Jori Epstein of Yahoo Sports joined me on “Boy Green Daily.” She did a massive column on Stiggers’ journey, and one of her top takeaways from speaking to football people is his drive.
Football sources told her that Stiggers is so driven that the Jets feel like he won’t fail.
That drive will be put to the test in training camp. Stiggers didn’t get a lot of playing time last season, and the depth chart has only gotten tougher.
