By Glenn Naughton<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As\u00a0Jets general manager Mike Maccagnan’s recent free agent spending spree resulted in the addition of cornerbacks\u00a0Darrelle Revis<\/a>, Antonio Cromartie<\/a> and Buster Skrine<\/a>,\u00a0the moves\u00a0will clearly\u00a0have a ripple effect on a\u00a0depth chart that will see some players demoted and others traded or cut loose.\u00a0 With nine cornerbacks currently listed on the roster, there will be no shortage of competition come time for camp, but could also give the Jets ammunition to add an extra draft pick or two.<\/p>\n While it’s probably safe to\u00a0assume that former first round selection Dee Milliner and last season’s third round pick Dexter McDougle will be back in green and white, that remains to be seen.<\/p>\n Reports<\/a> recently surfaced indicating there is some interest in Milliner on the trade market,\u00a0and Maccagnan was noncommittal<\/a> regarding\u00a0Milliner’s\u00a0future with the team.\u00a0 Trading\u00a0the promising young cornerback would make little sense\u00a0given Cromartie’s age and injury history as well as Milliners manageable $3.4 million salary.<\/p>\n Like Milliner, McDougle suffered a season ending\u00a0injury early on when he tore his ACL during training camp. Prior to that however, reports on\u00a0the rookie\u00a0were glowing, saying\u00a0that\u00a0he was turning heads and making\u00a0a run at the no. 2 CB spot.\u00a0 Despite having not been drafted by the current regime, McDougle’s youth, potential and cap hit ($675,000) should make him a favorite to stick around.\u00a0 Should that be the case,\u00a0it would move both of last year’s starters, Darrin Walls and Marcus Williams from the top two spots, to the 6th and 7th.<\/p>\n One of the few pleasant surprises during last years 4-12 clunker, Williams should earn strong consideration to be retained depending on how Todd Bowles feels he’ll fit\u00a0his scheme.\u00a0 Considered more of a zone corner as an undrafted free agent\u00a0out of North Dakota State, Williams was asked to play his share of man coverage\u00a0at times\u00a0and\u00a0far exceeded expectations.<\/p>\n For example, in a week fifteen meeting with the New England Patriots, Williams was given a chance to match up against Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on multiple occasions.\u00a0\u00a0At 5′ 11” 196 lbs Williams didn’t back down from the 6′ 6” 265lb Gronkowski.\u00a0 He challenged him at the line and played physical football in\u00a0holding the pro-bowler to 2 receptions on 3 targets for just 18 yards.<\/p>\n Walls on the other hand spent each of the previous two seasons with the Jets but had just four career starts before being thrust in to a starting role.\u00a0 Even on\u00a0a Jets team that was thin at the position, Walls was viewed as a\u00a0viable back-up who would likely be the fourth man on the depth chart before the injury bug hit the secondary.<\/p>\n Once elevated to no. 1, Walls found himself\u00a0defending the likes of Brandon Marshall, Demarius Thomas, Mike Wallace\u00a0and Jordy Nelson.\u00a0 A schedule loaded with future hall of fame quarterbacks and some of the best receivers in the game would be a true test for the Notre Dame product.<\/p>\n