With this move, the Jets have positioned themselves to be an even more dominant pass defense than they were last year. That is a scary proposition for opposing quarterbacks.

They already had the #1 pass defense so with the addition of Cromartie, already a lockdown corner in his own right, the Jets could feasibly take away their opponent’s top-two receivers on a weekly basis.

Darrelle Revis’ 2009 performance showed us that he is the preeminent cover corner. He can consistently shutdown the “best of the best” and now, with Cromartie on board, he will be paired with a guy who can take away the other side of the field as well.

This move automatically upgrades the Jets’ pass rush. Throughout 2009 it benefited from Revis’ shutdown ability and came up with numerous coverage sacks. Cromartie’s presence will make QB’s hold the ball even longer, which should translate to more sacks.

Cromarite has been in the league for four years and is clearly one of the most talented players at his position. In 2007, his second year, he collected 10 interceptions which lead the league.

He looked to be a perennial Pro Bowler but it did not work out that way. He followed up his break out year with 2 (both against the Jets) and 3 picks in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

In 2008 he was hampered by a hip injury, which might explain his diminished production. He has had a history of injuries – the most prominent being a torn ACL that forced him to miss his final season at Florida State. He was still drafted in the first round by the Chargers despite the injury.

Cromartie is one of those lightning rod players. There is always controversy surrounding him both on and off the field.

He has fathered seven children out of wedlock with six different women and got into a fight at local bar where he was accused of hitting a patron over the head with a bottle. He had a series of unpaid fines for traffic violations and was a no-show for court appearances.

He has come under fire from fans and teammates alike for his lack of effort on the field. A case in point was his performance against the Jets in the playoffs this year.

Shonn Greene’s 47-yard game-clinching touchdown was made possible by Cromartie. He was in perfect position to make the tackle at the line of scrimmage and simply stood there as Greene ran right by him.

The tape doesn’t lie and when I broke down this play after the game I saw a guy who had no interest in making a tackle and it cost his team the game. The Jets were clinging to a 10-7 lead with 8 minutes to go and Greene’s run essentially iced the game.

Cromartie compounded his mistake by taking a cheap shot on Greene. Well after Greene crossed the goal line, he gave him a shoulder from behind which should have drawn a flag.

This kind of thing will not go over big in New York. Ryan likes his guys to play aggressively but smart. If he cannot play with better discipline he will find himself in Ryan’s doghouse in a hurry.

Cromartie has been unhappy the last two years as the Chargers have played more zone coverage. It has also been rumored that his laziness on the field was a premeditated move to force a trade. That should be a big concern to Jets fans.

The Jets acquired a very talented but immature and selfish player. He will be a great fit for their man coverage scheme but I am not sure his talent outweighs the considerable baggage he brings.

This move comes down to Rex Ryan. Tannenbaum would not have made this deal without Ryan’s assurance that he could turn this guy around.

I will say this for Ryan, he took a troubled Braylon Edwards who was also a distraction for his prior team and transformed him into a more professional player. I am not so sure Cromartie will show the same maturity.

As a cover man, he fits perfectly into the Jets’ scheme. He is great in bump and run coverage and has the fluid hips to turn and run with any receiver in the league. He also has great recovery speed which enables him to make a play even if he gets beat off the line.

He has great burst and acceleration, which allow him to close on balls in front of him. He is a gambler and likes to jump routes but will get beat sometimes because of this tendency.

At 6-2, 203 he has prototypical size for the position and matches up well with the bigger, more physical receivers in the league. But his size does not always translate into production versus the run.

He often shies away from contact and that will not go over well with Ryan. Kerry Rhodes, a real prima donna in his own right, is on the trading block because of this same lack of physicality.

It will be interesting to see if Ryan can improve Cromartie’s toughness. If he cannot, he could very well be a one-year player for the Jets.

I am taking a wait and see approach on this move. Cromartie’s skills as a cover man are undeniable but how he fits in the locker room and the toughness he shows on the field are far less certain.

I am willing to give Rex Ryan the benefit of the doubt however. He did a great job leading this team and was directly responsible for a number of players stepping up their games. If he can do the same with Cromartie, this deal will be looked back upon as one of the key moves in the Jets’ progression.

The deal itself is a good one. Tannenbaum acquired a guy with first round talent and only had to surrender a third round pick for him.

His bad attitude, off-the-field issues and poor character however make him a significant risk. His contract status (in his last year of a four-year deal) decreases his value as well since they could lose him after this year but that is a risk the team is ready to take.

Cromartie’s unhappiness in San Diego was tied to the system in which he played. Zone coverage simply does not match his skill set so he should be pleased coming to New York, which fits his style perfectly.

This could be a good calculated risk by the Jets’ front office. If Cromartie plays well and stays out of trouble there is a good chance he will want to stay in New York. If they can resign him it will justify the third round pick.

Cromartie brings punt and kick return ability to the Jets’ special teams so he brings extra value there. He is very dangerous with the ball in his hands and even returned a missed FG 109-yards for a touchdown.

We will have to wait and see if Ryan can help turn this guy’s career around. If he can help him grow as a person and as a pro, the sky’s the limit for him.

If for nothing else, Jets fans should be impressed with the team’s aggressiveness. They acquired yet another player with impressive talent who fills a major position of need.

This is an impressive start to the Jets’ off-season and based on Tannenbaum’s prior history, there should be more big moves to come.