One of the biggest areas of concern for the Jets heading into the 2019 season is their cornerback depth.
With two-year starter Morris Claiborne still a free agent, the Jets brought Darryl Roberts back in free agency. He’s currently the team’s No. 2 cornerback behind Trumaine Johnson after filling in nicely when Johnson was injured a season ago. However, he’s far from proven and the Jets did little else at the position besides signing Brian Poole. He will man the slot, leaving New York inexperienced on the outside.
Since the Jets didn’t address cornerback in the draft – save for a late-round pick on PUP candidate Blessuan Austin – the team could be looking to trade for a veteran player to shore up the secondary. It might be hard to find the right player at the right price, but the idea of trading for a cornerback is worth exploring if Gregg Williams doesn’t feel overly confident in the unit.
Here are four potential cornerbacks the Jets could trade for this offseason.
Chris Harris Jr., Broncos
Harris reportedly wants either a new contract or to be traded prior to this season and the Jets would be a great destination for one of the best cornerbacks in the league. He’s productive – 19 interceptions and 80 batted balls in eight seasons – experienced and would be great opposite Trumaine Johnson.
We wrote about why the Jets should trade for Harris prior to the draft, but now the price for him could go down as team’s head into the offseason. Ideally, any trade for Harris would include linebacker Darron Lee and probably a third- or fourth-round pick as well. If the Jets traded for Harris, they’d have to sign him to the long-term deal he’s seeking – $15 million per year.
Xavier Rhodes, Vikings
Rhodes’ production has dropped tremendously since his breakout year in 2016 and the Vikings could be interested in moving the six-year cornerback two years into his massive contract extension. The Vikings have the least cap space heading into 2019 and would love to shed the remaining $46 million of Rhodes’ contract.
A deal would make a ton of sense for the Jets as well, who would love to pair the 28-year-old shutdown corner with Trumaine Johnson. The duo would compliment each other well, as Johnson plays on the left side and Rhodes on the right. Rhodes is coming off the worst season of his career, so the Jets could swoop in and get him for a bargain if he’s truly on the block. Given his age, experience and production, Rhodes would probably cost similarly to Marcus Peters’ package of a fourth and a second.
Patrick Peterson, Cardinals
This is a pipe dream but would be a huge upgrade for the Jets secondary. There was a rumor Peterson could be moved on draft day, but there’s still a chance the Cardinals trade him given his reported unhappiness with the team.
Peterson will be 29 in July and has been a Pro Bowler every season of his eight-year career. He’s still one of the best cover corners in the NFL and would give the Jets one of the most feared secondaries in the league. Peterson has two years left on his deal; he’ll make $11.9 million in 2019 and $13.2 million in 2020. It would cost a pretty penny to acquire Peterson. The Chiefs got a fourth- and second-round for Marcus Peters in 2018, so Peterson would probably cost more than that.
Brandon Carr, Ravens
The Ravens have a surplus of talented cornerbacks on their roster and Carr’s age makes him the most likely to be traded should the Jets come looking for a player of his caliber. Despite turning 33 in May, Carr is still a productive cornerback on the final year of his deal. His experience would also help younger players like Darryl Roberts and Parry Nickerson and he could even mentor Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye. Carr is incredibly durable as well, having played and started in all 176 games of his 11-year career.
Carr wouldn’t cost too much to acquire, but the Ravens might not want to part with any more core players of their secondary after losing C.J. Mosley to the Jets, Terrell Suggs to Cardinals and Za’Darius Smith to the Packers. Carr is also on the final two years of the four-year contract he signed in 2017 and would make $14 million over that time.
