Since he basically came out of nowhere -- as in no college and via the Canadian Football League -- and was surprisingly selected by the Jets in the fifth round (No. 176 overall) in the 2024 NFL Draft, Qwan'tez Stiggers has been a creature of the special teams.
Now, however, with the Green & White's defensive backfield in flux, Stiggers, 23, has been showing that he is a man of multiple, and valuable talents. In last week's game at New Orleans, Stiggers held down one of the cornerback spots, playing all 78 snaps (100%) while seeing double duty on specials with a modest 8 snaps (29%).
And on the Saints' first possession of the game, Stiggers was there to scoop up a loose ball that was pried loose by S Malachi Moore, leading to an opening field goal by Nick Folk.
"I'm not going to say we're going to get interceptions, man, we need interceptions, but however you get the ball back to the offense, it really doesn't matter," Stiggers said, referring to a defense that has yet to snag an INT this season. "So whether it's a strip, whether it's an interception, once we get the ball back to the offense and just do field goals and takeaways, we should be good."
Stiggers and the Jets' defense confront another challenge when they take on the AFC East-leading New England Patriots, who have lost once in their last 12 games, and their emerging quarterback Darke Maye. The Jets' defensive backfield has turned over since the start of the season -- only the veteran Brandon Stephens remains from the group that started in Week 1. Along with rookie S Malachi Moore, Stiggers is joined at CB by the undrafted (and unrelated) free agents Jordan Clark and Dean Clark.
Stiggers' dual role on special teams and now on defense has impressed ST coordinator Chris Banjo, who has used Stiggers on 283 (70%) ST snaps up in total this season.
"It's been amazing," Banjo said. "He's meant a lot to us as a group. In regards to what he does, what he brings on the field and off the field, how he's held himself accountable, how he holds other guys accountable. And it's really exciting to see him get his opportunity on the defensive side of the ball. And I've said this as a coach, I know, obviously I'm a teams' coach, but I want all of our guys in our room to sign $100 million contracts, play in a position that they probably went to bed dreaming about since they were little, catching touchdowns or catching interceptions.
"At the same time, having a service mindset of it being bigger than you and I think he's really embodied that, because obviously he's getting an opportunity on the defensive side of the ball, but he's just as locked in on specials' meetings, still giving guys pointers, still asking questions that not only make him better, but the group better. So he's meant a lot, and he, I think he's doing it the right way."
As Stiggers gets set to make his third start at cornerback, he's trying to relish his opportunity while also keeping a level head. He was solid against the Saints, making 5 tackles, logging 2 passes defended and of course the early fumble recovery.
"You know, since Week 1, it's just been falling into place," said Stiggers, who will turn 24 on Jan. 8. "Doing whatever on the team, whether that's special teams, the defense. I finally get my shot, and I'm going to take the best advantage of my opportunities."
He added: "I mean, really, like the way I look at it, you watch film. You can get certain keys, but I feel like once you're out there, you really just got to win one-on-one. And that's what I'm trying to do on a weekly basis, and I'm going to continue to do it, and I'm trying to do it this week, too."
