Antonio Cromartie

[SpringStein]

TFY Draft is saying this about Antonio:

The rangy 6-foot-3, 207-pound product recently clocked a 4.31 in the 40-yard dash and threw up almost 25 repetitions of 225 pounds on the bench press

If that is true, he will certainly go in the top 20 - allowing another prospect(s) to drop to us at #22 and 29. Getting better all the time! ;)

[Arkie]

I wouldn't risk a 1st round pick on a guy coming off of ACL knee construction. He missed the entire '05 season.

[SpringStein]

Supposedly he could have played in FSU's bowl game. If he had played this year, I think he would have been the #1 corner.

I can see a team taking the risk in round #1 for a guy who could become a star if he has recovered to run that kind of time.

[WABronco]

Supposedly he could have played in FSU's bowl game. If he had played this year, I think he would have been the #1 corner.

I can see a team taking the risk in round #1 for a guy who could become a star if he has recovered to run that kind of time.

He would've been the no. 1 corner, w/o a doubt...

[Clockwork Orange]

Supposedly he could have played in FSU's bowl game. If he had played this year, I think he would have been the #1 corner.

I can see a team taking the risk in round #1 for a guy who could become a star if he has recovered to run that kind of time.

If he's really at full strength and impresses at the combine as well as his Pro Day, he could go as high as #7 to the 49ers.

[Arkie]

For the record I would take Cromartie in the first round. I was just putting up smoke screens. ;)

Positives


- Cromartie rivals Jimmy Williams as the top overall corner in the 2006 draft, and has the same elite size as Williams. With the advent of the bigger wide receiver in the NFL, teams are always looking for a bigger corner who can move fluidly, support the run, and not be a liability in pass coverage. Cromartie meets all of these requirements and then some. Is a superb tackler, but the best part of his game is his awareness of where he is on the field, where he needs to be to make a play on the ball, and where to position his body so as to cut off most throws. Cromartie is an excellent athlete who has a track background both in high school and at FSU, and he has the hands of a receiver, which even led to FSU utilizing him there in the spring. Cromartie is a big play waiting to happen both as a CB (4 ints in 2004 - 1 int. return for a TD; fumble return for a TD) and in the return game where he was in the top-5 in the ACC in both kickoff and punt return yards. He has surprisingly fluid hips for a corner of his size, and is strong in both zone and man coverage.

Weaknesses


- Of course the main concern with Cromartie is the fact that he tore his ACL during the summer of 2005 and subsequently missed all of the 2005 season. He surprisingly entered the draft (a la Willis McGahee) and any team drafting him will have to do a thorough evaluation of his knee. As a result of his knee injury, Cromartie lacks the playing time that the other top corners in the draft have. He has never been a full-time starter for an entire season, and while he has played in every game he was eligible for, his is short on starting experience.

Overall Analysis


- Had Cromartie not injured himself, he was already deemed a lock to enter the 2006 draft. His potential was and still remains amazing and he made the most of his time of the field. Good news on the injury front: Antonio was able to practice before the Orange Bowl and pleaded with coaches to let him play. His combine and pro-day workouts will have a lot to do with determining how good he is to go. Here is betting he does well in those workouts and will be the second or third corner off the board in the first round.

[SpringStein]

For the record I would take Cromartie in the first round. I was just putting up smoke screens. ;)

Sly fox - you qualify as a FO guy!

[watermock]

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/image.php?u=1655&dateline=1138031563

Yoda is in Vegas playing poker

[Broncoman13]

I've been all over Cromartie since SoCal broke the news that he might declare. Dude is the total package. If he's somehow available at 29 I jump all over the pick. Move DWill to Dimeback or Nickel and make him concentrate on ST's. Cromartie is going to be a star. We're not talking a Willie Middlebrooks type of guy here, we're talking a guy that without the injury would rate higher than Champ, Hall, or Newman going into the draft. All of those guys were top 10 picks. Cromartie is bigger and as fast or faster than all of them!

I've heard recently that the Chiefs are really looking his way. He may not make it past them in the first! I'd hate to see it happen. Two steals in consectutive first rounds would really piss me off... especially when you consider that I really like Derrick Johnson and Cromartie's football skills.

[yerner]

Yeah, I watched him play. I would love to have him.

[Clockwork Orange]

A recent interview with Cromartie:

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/interviews/antoniocromartie/antoniocromartie.html

Just for you SoCal:

Scott Wright: Who is the best player you have faced during your career?

Antonio Cromartie: I would say it would have to be Chad Jackson out of the University of Florida.

;D

[SoCalBronco]

A recent interview with Cromartie:

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/interviews/antoniocromartie/antoniocromartie.html

Just for you SoCal:

Scott Wright: Who is the best player you have faced during your career?

Antonio Cromartie: I would say it would have to be Chad Jackson out of the University of Florida.

;D

ROFL!

I think Jackson is quite talented, its just he's soft thats all, really soft.

[Mediator12]

A recent interview with Cromartie:

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/interviews/antoniocromartie/antoniocromartie.html

Just for you SoCal:

Scott Wright: Who is the best player you have faced during your career?

Antonio Cromartie: I would say it would have to be Chad Jackson out of the University of Florida.

;D

The advisory committee gave him a late third early fourth position??? If he gets into the second round after the combine It would be a steal.

[Arkie]

He ran a 4.49. I expected faster.

[Lestat]

i get the feeling some team is gonna want him to add bulk & play S

[Mediator12]

He was obviously laboring running the 40. His impressive recovery to date is good though. I hope he has an average pro day though. Then, Denver can try and get him in the late third. He is a guy that I would love to see drop to us late on day one.

[BombsOverBaghdad]

I've been all over Cromartie since SoCal broke the news that he might declare. Dude is the total package. If he's somehow available at 29 I jump all over the pick. Move DWill to Dimeback or Nickel and make him concentrate on ST's. Cromartie is going to be a star. We're not talking a Willie Middlebrooks type of guy here, we're talking a guy that without the injury would rate higher than Champ, Hall, or Newman going into the draft. All of those guys were top 10 picks. Cromartie is bigger and as fast or faster than all of them!

I've heard recently that the Chiefs are really looking his way. He may not make it past them in the first! I'd hate to see it happen. Two steals in consectutive first rounds would really piss me off... especially when you consider that I really like Derrick Johnson and Cromartie's football skills.

With Chad Jackson's combine - no way does he make it past the Chef's pick. I agree with Cromartie at #29. In fact, I would like us to be able to select from Cromartie, Lawson, & Spencer at 29. Let's use the pick to gamble on greatness!

[Arkansas Bronco]

I dont want Cromartie any where before our 2nd round pick it would be a total waste of a good 1rst round pick to take him. WTH do we need another 2nd rate corner?

[Lestat]

2nd rate? WTF are you talking about? Cro is a stud & if he was fully healthy the undisputed #1 CB in the draft


i agree we don't need a CB but to call him 2nd rate is nuts


far as the Chiefs go they need defense more, between Parker,Gonzo,LJ & etc they have the weapons to get it done, they need a defender to get stops on the other side of the field

[SoCalBronco]

He's still the No. 1 corner in this draft to me (Tye Hill very close behind). I know what this guy can do. 4.5...whatever.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

I would love for hime to go in the first half of the first round and move a couple of guys down to the broncs.

[Lestat]

i love Cro's play but Tye was a damn stud this year so i'm not ready to appoint Cro #1 CB over him, i think when fully healthy he's better than Tye & #1 but not at this point cause he's not 100% recovered, he may have been able to play in the bowl game but a ACL(everything else he tore) requires a year to fully recover(look at Edgerrin James for example, he was ok the 1st year & then after that 1st year he went off)

[Drek]

He's still the No. 1 corner in this draft to me (Tye Hill very close behind). I know what this guy can do. 4.5...whatever.
Over Mike Huff? Huge measurables, plays all four DB positions.

[Lestat]

Huff is mostly a S & most likely to play at the S positions more so than CB, Hill & Cromartie are pure corner's

[Drek]

Huff is mostly a S & most likely to play at the S positions more so than CB, Hill & Cromartie are pure corner's Huff ran a 4.35, is 6'2", 205. To play safety he'd probably need to put on some weight. I've heard quite a few scouts say that they think Huff's best natural position is corner, praising his great hip movement, outstanding vertical and broad jumps, and top notch ball skills.

I think he'd be elite at any DB position, but CB is much more valuable. I think he'd be a better free safety than he'd be a cornerback, but going into this draft he's still a better cornerback prospect than Hill or Cromartie. He's got 4 inches on Hill and is only slightly slower (overlooking the fact that Hill is a former track star as well, giving him an advantage at running the 40), and he doesn't bring the injury questions of Cromartie and a much better 40 time.

In the long run he might not be the best corner from this class, but if you're a team picking in the top 10 its either Huff or Jimmy Williams, the later probably has got a stronger leaning towards safety than Huff.

[Lestat]

definitely if i'm picking top 10 it's Huff or Williams, depends on the coverage i run, if i run a scheme like Denver it's Huff cause Denver uses alot of Flex DB's in their scheme(Brandon,Cox & etc)
he can play S & CB both effectively, however as a pure value pick in the late 1st or 2nd i pass on Huff for Cromartie gambling that i can solve a bigger need 1st & then Snag Cromartie cheap & hope he pans out like McGahee after his injury
because when healthy he's head & shoulders above the rest of the CB class