Report: Jets want Antonio Cromartie if they can't sign Darrelle Revis

John O'Boyle/The Star-Ledger

The New York Jets are looking for a new corner back, and they may not have to look too far to get one. According to Bleacher Report, the Jets top priority is to make a reunion with Patriots corner back Darrelle Revis happen.

If that doesn't materialize, their plan B would be another familiar face - Antonio Cromartie.

Cromartie was the second corner on the Arizona Cardinals' depth chart behind Patrick Peterson and is only 30 years old, so he could still bring a lot of stability to a Jets secondary that ran no-namers Marcus Williams, Darrin Walls, Kyle Wilson and Phillip Adams out there at different points during the season.

Cromartie, a free agent-to-be, finished the 2014-15 season with three interceptions and only gave up 65 catches for no touchdowns, which is even more impressive when you consider he's playing opposite Peterson.

However, Revis is the big fish here and we all know what he can do. It goes without saying that he's much better than Cromartie is and he figures to command a bigger salary.

Despite their 4-12 record, the Jets defense was decent. They ranked fifth against the run (93.1 YPG) and 14th against the pass (234.1 YPG). The secondary, however, was another story. It only accounted for four of the team's six total interceptions, with Walls grabbing two of them.

Not good.

One would figure that if the Jets sign either Revis or Cromartie, it would instantly vault the defense into a top-10 discussion. One would also have to figure the numbers against the pass would certainly improve. New head coach Todd Bowles is no stranger to defense either, like Rex Ryan before him.

Revis technically is not a free agent, as he has a $20 million option on his contract for next season. The overwhelming thought is that the Patriots won't pick that up and instead will try to work out a longer term deal with him, which is the smarter move.

What's more, the Patriots would be crazy to let Revis walk, especially to a rival like the Jets or Buffalo Bills, the other team rumored to be interested in Revis's services. For my money, he is one of the few players in the NFL that you pony up whatever you've got and give him what he wants.

If Revis does indeed leave New England, I'm not sure he'd go back to New York after the comments he made about them before the Super Bowl. A Cromartie reunion seems more likely to me.

Then again, money talks.



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