ESPN’s Edwards: Antonio Cromartie would fit with Arizona Cardinals

Depending on who you ask, the opinions of free agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie will be rather varied.

He made the Pro Bowl each of the last two seasons, which should indicate he’s at least pretty good, but then he graded as one of the worst cornerbacks in the NFL last season by ProFootballFocus.

Since being selected in the first round of the 2006 Draft by the San Diego Chargers, the former Florida St. star has seemed to alternate between star and dud, often tantalizing people with his potential but not quite living up to what folks think he should be.

Now a free agent after being released by the Jets, the Arizona Cardinals appear to be interested in his services. Would he be a good fit opposite Patrick Peterson?

“He’s got something left,” ESPN NFL analyst and former NFL head coach Herm Edwards told Doug and Wolf Monday on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “Obviously he can still cover, and that’s the whole key. Can the guy, when you line him outside of the numbers, can he play football?”

Cromartie, 29, was credited with 38 total tackles last season along with three interceptions and nine passes defensed. He’s picked off 28 passes in his eight-year career, with a career-best 10 in 2007.

At 6-foot-2 and 210-pounds he has great size for the position, assuming he can still get the job done and cover receivers without much help.

“He can do that; he’s long, he’s got good hands,” Edwards said. “And it’s just a matter of what’s the contract, what are you willing to live with and what are the terms?”

As Edwards noted, the best kind of deal the Cardinals could ink a player like Cromartie to is a short one that would offer the player a chance to earn more down the road.

“He’s a veteran guy, he can play in this system,” Edwards added. “So he fits.”

Follow @theAdamGreen