Faceoff - CB Antonio Cromartie, San Diego Chargers

Posted 8/1, exclusive to Footballguys.com

Upside - by Sigmund Bloom

Some might have wondered what the Chargers were doing taking a cornerback who had only started one career game, and only played in 25 career games at Florida State in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. No one doubted AJ Smith's pick by week 10 of last year, when Cromartie picked off Peyton Manning three times in his first career start on a memorable Sunday night.

Cromartie has the speed, agility, and ball skills of a wideout, and they were on display that fateful Sunday night. Not that it should have come as a big surprise, after all, Cromartie had three interceptions in his previous three games -- as a nickel back. Cromartie did not have a huge presence in run defense, but his ballhawking ability still gave him enough on the stat sheet to finish as the #15 cornerback and a top 30 defensive back -- even though he wasn't even the starter until the eighth game, and still reverted back to nickel back after that epic game.

Now Drayton Florence is a Jacksonville Jaguar, and Cromartie is an every-down starter. What's scary about that is that if you just take Cromartie's stats in starts, he projects out as the #1 overall defensive back. Sure, those stats come in bunches, and Cromartie doesn't have the solid foundation of run support to smooth over the rough spots, but does it matter when Cromartie has the hands of a wide receiver and the speed and elusiveness of a top return man?

Cromartie is easily worth drafting as a #1 CB in leagues that break out the position, and gambling types should target him as a #1 DB in leagues that lump the positions together. For every week Cromartie puts up a dud, he'll probably put up a week when scores around the same as your stud offensive starters, and that kind of production can make a good team a champion with a little bit of timing and luck.

Downside - by Jene Bramel

After a rookie season where he got his feet wet as a nickel back, Cromartie exploded onto the NFL landscape with a ten interception season last year, including an eye-opening three pick afternoon against Peyton Manning. But, while Cromartie has the makings of a shutdown NFL cornerback, his elite talent may prevent him from becoming a consistent IDP force.

Except in big play scoring systems, cornerbacks must be consistent tacklers to hold IDP value. That requires that quarterbacks regularly target their side of the field and that they are willing and able run supporters. Cromartie is a physical player, but only made 39 solo tackles last season despite starting eight games and getting nearly half the snaps in the other eight. Consistent corners usually average 60 solos or more. The best IDP corners average 70 or more. Should he continue to assert himself in coverage, Cromartie may see even fewer tackle opportunities as opposing quarterbacks challenge his teammates instead.

What Cromartie does have going for him is the ability to consistently make plays on the ball. Ten interceptions and 18 passes defensed is an impressive line, and consistent with his predraft scouting reports. Behind a very active and aggressive front seven, Cromartie's big play opportunity should remain high. Whether it will be enough to compensate for his questionable tackle potential is the key question, as it's unlikely that he'll have another double digit interception season. Cromartie is certainly worth considering highly in big play scoring, CB required leagues, but relying on him as more than a bye week replacement in other systems is a significant risk to your bottom line. Buyer beware.