Darrelle Revis signed with the rival New England Patriots last week, and Antonio Cromartie inked a deal with the Arizona Cardinals Thursday.
Meanwhile, the New York Jets have what they have at cornerback -- a second-year player they hope takes the next step in Dee Milliner and a few depth guys who could maybe start if they had to.
That's good enough for coach Rex Ryan. At least so he says.
"I feel really good about our corners," Ryan told reporters Thursday, via PFT. "Obviously Dee Milliner, he’s a young man that we had a lot of high expectations for, and he started to fulfill those expectations later in the year. We kind of predicted that he would go through some growing pains and then come out of it and that’s exactly what he did."
Go on.
". . . Obviously we have Kyle Wilson who has been in that nickel role for us for a while. We were willing to get Ellis Lankster back, who is an outstanding special teams presence for us, but will maybe have more of a chance in different roles," Ryan continued. "Darrin Walls is kind of like our relief pitcher, he filled in for us, so we’re comfortable there. [They are] guys that have been in our system a while.
"And there’s another guy, Ras-I Dowling, a guy that we really thought a lot of. . . . I’m happy with the guys that we have."
Here's what's missing, though: a bonafine No. 1 cornerback. Some could even argue a No. 2, depending on how much stock they put into Milliner's strong finish to his otherwise subpar rookie campaign.
Here's what's missing, though: a bonafine No. 1 cornerback. Some could even argue a No. 2, depending on how much stock they put into Milliner's strong finish to his otherwise subpar rookie campaign.
The Jets failed to land any of the top free agent corners they were targeting this offseason, namely Alterraun Verner, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie and Vontae Davis. Antonio Cromartie seemed to be their last resort, though they didn't even bother to go that route in the end.
Instead, they missed on everyone and now simply just have a lot of coaching up to do. Gang Green may also be forced to draft a cornerback early in May -- one of Ryan's go-to moves.
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Instead, they missed on everyone and now simply just have a lot of coaching up to do. Gang Green may also be forced to draft a cornerback early in May -- one of Ryan's go-to moves.
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