NY Jets: Team makes logical decision releasing Antonio Cromartie

The NY Jets have released 10-year veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie ending his second stint with Gang Green.

The Jets originally acquired Cromartie via trade with the San Diego Chargers back in 2010, where he spent four seasons (2010-2013) with the Jets. He spent the 2014 season starting in Arizona under defensive coordinator Todd Bowles who became the Jets head coach in 2015.

After signing corners such as Buster Skrine and bringing Darrelle Revis back to Gotham, Bowles and general manager Mike Maccagnan shifted their attention towards another familiar free agent. Last March, Cromartie signed a four-year, $32 million contract to not only return to the Big Apple, but play under his former defensive coordinator Bowles.

Unfortunately, his beloved reunion with Gang Green was cut short as his production noticeably declined in 2015. Cromartie was set to count $8 million against the salary cap in 2016, by being cut by the Jets, they now have freed up that same amount in cap savings.

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Although Cromartie started 15 of 16 games this past season, he failed to record an interception for the first time since his rookie year back in 2006.

His 29 tackles was the fewest he’s recorded in a single season since his rookie year as well.

He struggled heavily with keeping up with younger and faster receivers in coverage, and was consistently getting torched by the deep ball. According to Pro Football Focus rankings, out of 111 qualifying corners, Cromartie was ranked as the 86th best.

Throughout his 10-years in the league, Cromartie has recorded 34 interceptions in the regular season and playoffs, 13 of those 34 came from his time as a Jet. He has also made 78 regular-season and three postseason starts for the Jets.

The decision to release Cromartie was logical, the veteran corner had a forgetful 2015 with Gotham. Cromartie has expressed interest in re-signing with the team for less money stating how he loves the Jets organization and staff but realistically, the soon to be 32-year old will be playing for a different franchise for the 2016 season.

His veteran presence will be missed, however, it’s time to incorporate younger players on both sides of the ball. The Jets have aged both on offense and defense and could look to either fill the corner vacancy through the draft or possibly have an in-house competition.

Even though the Jets will miss his veteran presence in the locker room, his poor numbers and reasonably large cap hit made him a logical release. With his release from the team, the CB2 slot is now vacant and in need of being filled. The Jets have depth at the corner position, young corners such as Marcus Williams could be in the mix to line up opposite side of Revis for the start of 2016.

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Williams, Dee Milliner, and Dexter McDougle could all be in the mix to compete for the vacant CB2 slot. I don’t expect the Jets to draft a corner in the early rounds of the draft, there’s other positions on both sides of the ball that are in need such as the linebacker, running back and wide receiver position. Depending on what gaps are filled during free agency, the Jets could target a corner between rounds three and five.

Some potential draftees that could be available for the Jets, assuming Jalen Ramsey, Vernon Hargreaves, and Kendall Fuller are all drafted in the first round as projected, are Xavien Howard out of Baylor, Artie Burns out of Miami, William Jackson out of Houston, James Bradberry out of Stamford and Mackenzie Alexander out of Clemson.