The New York Jets cleared a sizable amount of cap room on Monday as they released cornerback Antonio Cromartie. He was due $8 million each of the next three seasons, but had no prorated bonus money on his contract. The Jets clear the $8 million in cap room, and carry no dead money moving forward.
Cromartie is 31, and coming off the first zero interception season since his rookie year. Our Jets blog indicated Cromartie got off to a horrible start, but finished looking pretty decent. At $8 million a year, it sounds like there was no way they were going to bring him back. It does not sound like they tried to even work out a new contract, and so the Jets appear set to get younger at the position.
The San Francisco 49ers have some questions at the cornerback position. Tramaine Brock started on one side. Kenneth Acker started opposite him for much of the season before Dontae Johnson got his own opportunity. I'm not entirely sure why Johnson did not get more opportunities, but he heads into the offseason with some decent momentum.
The turnover on the coaching staff could throw all that for a loop, and we don't really know what the 49ers think of their young cornerbacks. I do not expect them to make a play for Cromartie, but I do think they add more depth at the position. The question is whether they go with a veteran, or if they look primarily at the draft. We'll be breaking down the veteran options in more detail prior to free agency, but for now, do you see the team adding any veterans in the secondary?