Scouting Jets rookie cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers

Taking a look at a young Jets cornerback prospect

Now that the 2024 NFL draft is over, we’re going to take an in-depth look at each of the Jets’ draft picks, in reverse order. We continue today with former CFL safety Qwan’tez Stiggers, who was selected by the Jets with the final pick of the fifth round.

The 22-year old Stiggers is listed at 6’0” and 197 pound. He is unique because he never actually played college football. However, he joined the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League last season and won a rookie of the year award. He was also named as an all-star.

Background

Stiggers’ primary role in high school was on special teams, but a late growth spurt meant he started seeing a bigger role on defense in his final year. Since he developed so late, Stiggers was not a highly sought-after high school recruit. He earned a scholarship to Division II Lane College in 2020.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck his family, as his father was killed in a car accident and Stiggers – who has 12 siblings and was dealing with depression – opted to drop out of college.

In 2022, he decided to try out for the Fan Controlled Football league, a short-lived 7-on-7 tournament which featured some retired NFL players such as Terrell Owens and Richard Sherman. Stiggers was the youngest player in the league, but he racked up five interceptions.

From there, he decided to try and earn a job playing in the CFL. Due to injuries he saw action early after signing with the Argonauts.

From week six onwards Stiggers became a full-time starter and was one of Toronto’s key players. He racked up 56 tackles, three tackles for loss and five interceptions. The team went 16-2 before crashing out in the playoffs in the semi-finals.

At the end of the season, he was named as the CFL’s most outstanding rookie and an East all-star. He was eligible for the NFL draft in April and boosted his stock with a workout that was attended by 29 teams, having impressed during Shrine Bowl week.

The Jets selected Stiggers 176th overall in the 2024 draft, with the final pick of the fifth round.

Now let’s take a look at what Stiggers brings to the table, divided into categories.

Measurables/Athleticism

Stiggers has decent size and build, although his length and wingspan are slightly below average.

At his pro day workout, he posted a 4.49 in the 40-yard dash, solid explosiveness numbers headlined by a 128-inch broad jump, and average agility numbers. His play speed looks good on film.

Usage

Stiggers primarily lined up on the outside in Canada. However, to assess how that might translate to the NFL, you first need to understand some of the differences in the rules.

The field is bigger, there are three downs instead of four and, crucially, multiple receivers can be on the move at the snap, enabling them to get a running start. This can render press coverage impossible, and teams generally respond by having their cornerbacks playing off.

Coverage skills

The most impressive thing about watching Stiggers in coverage is how fluid his movements are considering the fact that he lacks experience and hasn’t been exposed to much top-level coaching. There may be some natural abilities here, or perhaps he’s just a quick learner and student of the game. He is balanced when dropping back, has loose hips in his transitions and breaks on the ball with good closing speed.

When Stiggers does give up plays in coverage, it’s generally because he gives up too much of a cushion, some of which is just a reflection of the conservative bend-but-don’t-break style that many teams tend to play between the 20’s.

He has also proven to be adept in zone coverages, dropping off his assignment to step in front of a downfield throw on multiple occasions last year.

Ball skills

Five interceptions in consecutive seasons is impressive, even though this only happened in the CFL and FCF. Stiggers locates and tracks the ball early on downfield throws and showcases soft hands.

He has good anticipation and the ability to jump routes, and he could have had even more interceptions than he did last season.

When breaking on the ball, Stiggers has good closing speed and timing and can disrupt at the catch-point, in spite of his below average length.

Tackling

Stiggers was a relatively productive tackler and shows an ability to take good angles, chase down fast players from behind and close quickly on players in space. However, he does have a worrying habit of diving in almost back-first to upend runners rather than wrapping them up. Talented ball carriers at the NFL level will anticipate that and bounce off the contact or avoid it altogether.

On this play, Stiggers does a good job of breaking down in space and manages to hang onto the receiver and bring him down, albeit allowing him to fall forwards for extra yards.

Run defense

Stiggers made some contributions coming up to play the run, although his impact was lessened by the fact that he played outside. He shows an eagerness to help clean up but can get caught up on blocks.

Physicality

As noted, press coverage is rare in the CFL and it was also against the rules in FCF, where defensive players have to allow a clean release. However, there were some occasions where Stiggers lined up in press coverage for the Argonauts and, while he would usually bail out, he jammed his man at the line from time to time.

Stiggers admits that he doesn’t have a lot of experience of this, but says he feels like he proved he can do it during Shrine Bowl week. Here’s one play where he did it in the Shrine Bowl game itself.

As noted, Stiggers will often throw his shoulder/back at a ball carrier in an effort to make a big hit and will take on blockers enthusiastically at times.

He had at least two pass interference penalties and one face mask penalty in 2023.

Blitzing

Blitzing is an area where Stiggers has next to no experience, but he has the burst and closing speed to potentially be quite effective at it. He was not credited with a sack last year.

Special teams

The kicking game is even more important in the CFL than it is in the NFL, and Stiggers was able to showcase some traits which should translate well to the NFL game.

He made an immediate impact at the Shrine Bowl with a special teams tackle on the opening kickoff.

That came after a CFL season where he had three special teams tackles including two on punts. He showcases the possibility of being an adept gunner here.

There were also a couple of negatives on special teams, though. Stiggers had a face mask penalty and also got beaten by the opposing gunner on a play where a punt was muffed and recovered for a touchdown.

In high school, Stiggers returned both punts and kicks and, although he didn’t get a chance to do this in Canada, he did showcase a slick spin move on one downfield interception.

Instincts/Intelligence

Stiggers is so inexperienced that it’s inevitably going to take him some time to learn the nuances of NFL defensive systems. However, his coaches in Canada described him as like a sponge in terms of the way he absorbs information.

There were a handful of plays where he was able to make a quick read and blow up a receiver screen last year.

One concern, however, is that teams may look to exploit his lack of experience. He bites on the screen here and his man gets behind him deep on the pump-and-go.

Stiggers also gave up a 47-yard touchdown on a similar play where he was caught peeking into the backfield and didn’t realize he had no safety support behind him.

Attitude

Stiggers has shown impressive resolve to be drafted considering the route he has taken to get to the NFL. Clearly he combines a good work ethic with natural skill and technique.

Injuries

Stiggers hasn’t dealt with any injuries so far in his career. As noted, he was out of the game for a while as he was dealing with depression.

Scheme Fit

Stiggers looks to have potential as an outside cornerback, but he may be a developmental project as the team teaches him the defensive system and refines his technique. He could be someone you might look to employ situationally, too. On 3rd-and-long or end of game situations he could be someone who can make plays down the field.

His potential as a special teams contributor is also relevant here, and his best route to playing time for the next year or two.

Conclusions

It’s not completely unheard of for a defensive back to establish themselves in Canada and then make it at the NFL level. Brandon Browner is the most famous CFL-to-NFL success story. He went to a Pro Bowl after having spent five years in Canada earlier on in his career. However, Erik Harris and Tevaughn Campbell also successfully made the transition.

You would expect Stiggers to be raw given his background, but he actually looks the part on tape and seems to have enticing potential. The team is going to have to get him ready to play at this level, but he could be someone who it will be interesting to watch develop over the next few seasons.