Buffalo Bills Signing Antonio Cromartie Would Make Perfect Sense

When the New York Jets signed veteran cornerback Antonio Cromartie to a deal last offseason, it looked like a great move. After all, Cromartie had played very well with the Arizona Cardinals in the previous season and he was part of the team’s stellar defense. However, Cromartie had a mediocre season in his first year back with the Jets, and he looked like he was beginning to decline. He was released as a result and is now looking for work.

One team that has shown a lot of interest in Cromartie is the Buffalo Bills. This should not come as a major surprise to any, as head coach Rex Ryan coached Cromartie for four years during his time with the Jets. While the Bills do not necessarily need help at cornerback, bringing in Cromartie would still make a ton of sense for the team as they prepare for a playoff push.

Currently, the Bills have one of the best cornerback tandems in the NFL. Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby are two spectacular young players who are going to be anchors in the secondary for at least the next five years. Behind them, the team has veteran Leodis McKelvin and solid nickel back Nickell Robey who were strong backups last season.

So in that case, what would adding Cromartie do for the Bills? He would provide some experience and depth for the team, and he could possibly add some versatility as well. Cromartie can likely play both corner and safety, so it may make sense for him to convert to the latter position.

The Bills do not have great safety depth, especially because of the neck injury that Aaron Williams suffered last season, so they could use a strong player back there to have an immediate impact. The team has already had success converting a veteran corner to a safety; they did it with Corey Graham this past season, so they could probably have success doing it again. And since Ryan and Cromartie already have chemistry, it will probably be a relatively easy position switch.

At the end of the day, Cromartie would be a huge addition for the Bills. If he can come in and play well, then the team will be happy to have him as a depth player. If he continues to decline, he will not have a major negative impact on the team. He should definitely consider signing with the Bills if the opportunity arises.