If Cromartie is For Sale, Who's Buying?

Antonio Cromartie

With Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie headed to free agency, the Jets are faced with a tough decision: open up the checkbook and retain the secondary of one of the leagues best defenses in 2010, or roll the dice and hope to find a cheaper (or better) answer in the draft or free agency.  To make things more difficult, Cromartie isn't their only major player without a contract heading into next season.  With Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards both looking to cash in, it's unlikely the Jets will retain be able to retain all three.  A combination of some on-field slip ups (he gave up a team-high 7 passing TD's), combined with Cromartie's recent dispute with linebacker Bart Scot and Coach Rex Ryan, I believe Cro is the one on the way out.

But if Cromartie is on the market, who's looking to buy?

One possibility may be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Coach Raheem Morris isn't one who usually cares about off-field issues, of which Cromartie has plenty, and the Bucs would have one intimidating secondary with Cromartie opposite of Aqib Talib.

Another team may be the Minnesota Vikings, who, although their main concern is at Safety, are desperate for an improvement in the secondary.  If they are able to improve their pass defense (as well as that little quarterback issue they seem to have), they just may be able to regain their magical form of 2009.  Cromartie alongside aging yet capable CB Antoine Winfield would certainly be an improvement from the Vikings depleted 2009 roster.

Other possibilities include the Chicago Bears, who had a good defense, but were only rated 20th in passing D in 2010, or the Arizona Cardinals.  Cromartie's off the field issues are sure to make teams hesitate this offseason, but when it comes down to it he has the talent and he will be signed... it's just a matter of where.