NY Jets: Antonio Cromartie should be back on team

The NY Jets have released cornerback Antonio Cromartie in a cap saving move but should more than likely bring him back on a short-term deal.

The Jets have started the inevitable purge on their roster to prepare for the next step in the offseason by releasing Cromartie. The move is disappointing, but not surprising after an uneven 2015 campaign.

The Jets saved $8 million by releasing the veteran corner, he was in the second year of a four-year, $32 million contract he signed last offseason. His 2016 salary wasn’t guaranteed, allowing the Jets to save the full $8 million on their salary cap.

After being released, Cromartie gave a statement via his Instagram account giving his appreciation to the Jets organization and the fans that welcomed him back:

“I would like to thank the Jets organization for bringing me back this past season, I had a lot of fun and I know my first (half) of the season didn’t go well and I thank you guys for pushing and believing in me to keep me on the field so I could finish strong. Today is a sad day for me not because of my release but the guys I became really close in our DB room.”

Though Cromartie was just fired for the second time by the Jets, he holds no ill-will and if he has it his way he’ll still be playing for the green and white next season. According to NJ.com reports, Cromartie is expected to be willing to take less money to return, because he loves the organization and coach Todd Bowles.

The Jets have multiple options to replace Cromartie if they truly have their eyes set on moving on from the mercurial corner including but not limited too: former first round pick Dee Milliner, Marcus Williams and Buster Skrine who played mainly in the slot last season.

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Most would expect the Jets to allow Cromartie to test the free agency waters because if they really wanted to restructure, they could have done so without releasing him.

This maneuver also allows the Jets to look a little closer at the cornerbacks at the 2016 NFL Combine.

Lastly, the Jets are projected to have north of $20 million dollars under a $155 million salary cap, with this roster move. The Jets are going to continue to find ways to shed more money off of their books for an opportunity to extend the contract of Muhammad Wilkerson who is recovering from a broken leg.

The deadline for NFL teams to apply a franchise tag to a player who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent is March 1. The team may sign the player it tagged to a long-term contract through July 15.

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It is important to remember this because it would allow the Jets and Wilkerson even more time to negotiate a contract that assuredly got even more complex with his broken leg injury.