When the Jets took Boise State corner back Kyle Wilson with their 2010 first round pick, most people saw it as an insurance policy for the recently acquired Antonio Cromartie. With Cromartie, the Jets figured they could ease Wilson into the rotation while trying to learn the intricacies of Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme. However, due to the prolonged nature of Darrelle Revis’ hold-out, Wilson was thrust into the starting role opposite Cromartie as Revis worked through injuries and lack of off-season preparation. Revis started the opener against the Ravens but went down with a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the Patriots game the following week. Wilson stepped in for Revis in the second half and was very effective in shutting down Wes Welker en route to a 28-14 win.
Revis would miss the next two games, while Cromartie elevated his game showing flashes of his circa 2007 Chargers Pro Bowl form. Wilson on the other hand looked very much like a rookie and was soon supplanted by Drew Coleman as the interim starter and later as the starting nickel back. The rookie soon became buried in the depth chart, barely seeing the field, Mike Westhoff couldn’t even find him a consistent role on special teams. Wilson’s struggles were made-up for by Cromartie’s consistently solid play opposite Revis, although he did show some weakness in press coverage.
So Here’s The Issue:
The Jets relinquished a second round pick in exchange for Cromartie and he proved to be worth his price and then some. However, he is one of the Jets’ many key free agents. Given his relative youth, proven ability to be a shut-down corner, and his added value as a dangerous return man, Cromartie figures to command a significant amount of money on the free agent market. We all know that there is no such thing as loyalty in the National Football League and given Cromartie’s much publicized child support/naming issues he will almost certainly take the money and run to the highest bidder. If you need proof, just look at this past season where the Jets needed to front Cromartie half a million dollars in order for him to meet his child support obligations.
On the other hand, the Jets spent a first round draft-pick on Wilson in hopes that he would become another shut-down corner opposite Mr. “Revis Christ.” The Jets cornerback depth in 2010 allowed Wilson to sit back and learn, but he is no longer a rookie and it is time to put his feet to the fire and find out if the Jets have what they thought they were getting when they drafted him. Wilson is also under contract and would provide a cheaper alternative to Cromartie, which could free up money for the team to re-sign both their star wide receivers, Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes. The Jets can’t be too deliberate with Wilson or else they run the risk of having another Vernon Gholston-esque situation on their hands.
What It Comes Down To:
Rex loves having quality depth at corner back, especially with his creative blitz packages and the lack of a conventional pass-rush. Cromartie is a proven but potentially expensive commodity and his already been worth what they gave up for him but Wilson has huge potential and was regarded by many “experts” to be the best corner in his draft class. Ideally, the Jets would like to keep Cromartie but they will have to decide whether he is as easy to replace as a Holmes or an Edwards. Quality corners are hard to come by, but receivers are a dime a dozen and if the braintrust of Tannenbaum, Bradway, Clinkscales thinks the same way, Edwards could become the odd man out.
The wild card in this equation has to be nickel back Drew Coleman, who had a break-out season and is also a free agent. If the Jets think highly enough of Coleman, they could let Cromartie walk and throw Wilson to the wolves with Coleman as the proverbial insurance policy. It should be interesting to see how the Jets decide to divide up the contract money among their numerous free agents when free agency returns hopefully within the next week or so.
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