3. Release CB Antonio Cromartie
Cromartie severely regressed his first year back in New York (after he earned a pro bowl nod in Arizona one year prior) and he may be out of a job as a result.
Though he saw starter’s minutes for the most of the season, Cromartie was clearly overtaken by Marcus Williams as the team’s second corner opposite Darrelle Revis and was outplayed by every one of his teammates in the secondary.
Cromartie is set to earn $8 million in 2016 and he may be the team’s fourth-best cornerback!
If he’s willing to re-structure and reduce the $8-9 million he’s scheduled to earn in each of the next three years to around $4-5 million/yr, then I say keep him–he loves New York, wants to win, and has chemistry with the guys in that locker room.
But Cromartie was once a top corner in this league, and usually those guys don’t like to take less money.
If this is the case and Cromartie doesn’t want to take a pay cut, Maccagnan would be wise to just cut him lose. They already have a core secondary of Revis, Skrine, Williams, Pryor and Gilchrist in place.
Not to mention that former ninth overall pick Dee Milliner is still under contract.
If Cromartie is released, Milliner will have his last chance to prove himself worthy of a roster spot or he too will hit be disposed of in favor of more cap space.
