New York Jets: Full Position Breakdown and Depth Chart Analysis at Cornerback

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Pardon the cliche, but no trope in the English language applies more aptly to the New York Jets this offseason.

Sweeping changes in the coaching staff? Striking similarities across the board. The Jets will still field an aggressive defense that likes to get after the quarterback with exotic pressure packages, with a secondary that covers man-to-man.

Top-to-bottom changes to the depth chart at cornerback? The names have changed, but there are many familiar faces to be found in the group, and their assignments and responsibilities will largely be the same as they were in those players' last go-around with the Jets.

But even with so much staying the same, enough has changed that it could warrant a closer look as we head into the dead period of the NFL offseason.

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

The Starters

Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. Next!

No, not quite.

Sure, it's a given that those two will be the starting cornerbacks in the Jets defense, but their return to New York was about much more than simply creating reunion storylines for the New York tabloids to fill inches, use ink and sell newspapers.

Revis' return to New York was prompted by an abundance of salary-cap space thanks to the frugal ways of the John Idzik era. With nearly $52 million headed into the 2015 offseason, the Jets had more than enough money to make it rain for Revis. The four-time All-Pro proved he's still up to his normal standards last year in allowing only 51.8 percent of the throws into his coverage to be completed, according to Pro Football Focus.  

Cromartie was jettisoned from the Jets following the 2013 season after nagging injuries caused a slip in play; that year, Cromartie allowed only 53.3 percent of throws into his coverage to be completed, but he yielded seven touchdowns with only three interceptions and five pass breakups.

The 6'2", 203-pound cornerback rebounded in Todd Bowles' Arizona Cardinals defense to allow only two touchdowns with four interceptions and seven passes defensed.

As for the starting duties in the slot, look no further than Buster Skrine, the veteran cornerback signed over from the Cleveland Browns. He struggled the past two seasons, yielding 17 touchdown receptions against five interceptions with 23 pass breakups, but perhaps a change of scenery will do him good. 

Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The Backups

This is where it gets tight. Between Dee Milliner, Dexter McDougle, Marcus Williams, Darrin Walls, Dashaun Phillips and Keith Lewis, there will be some talented cornerbacks who are sent home after training camp.

As a former first-round pick, it would appear as though Milliner is safe. That's especially true considering he could easily be asked to step up next year if the Jets decide to part ways with Cromartie, whose contract is not guaranteed following the 2015 season, according to Over The Cap. Milliner's strength is as a press-man cornerback, and at 6'0" and 201 pounds, he's certainly built for the job.

The question is whether he can fix the flaws in his technique and the mental mistakes that plagued him as a rookie and led to him being benched three times during games for his struggles.

McDougle was drafted in the third round in 2014, but tore his ACL before the 2014 season and never played. He showed a world of potential in training camp last year, and could compete for one of the top backup spots, but he'll have to prove he's fully recovered from that injury and he'll also have to prove he's better suited for that job than any of the other optiosn in the defensive backfield. 

Williams played quite a bit in 2014 with 455 snaps, but he allowed 33 receptions on 44 targets in his direction, and although he did not allow a single touchdown, the high rate of completions in his direction is not a good sign for his ability to hold up under the massive spotlight he'd have when lining up between Revis and Cromartie.

And ultimately, that's what this will come down to. Quarterbacks aren't likely to throw at the Jets' top two corners too frequently, so the third and fourth cornerbacks on the roster will have to be very dependable under pressure. The bull's-eye will be even bigger on their backs with two shutdown corners like Revis and Cromartie. 

Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports

The Castoffs

At this point, the only safe bets for the roster are Revis, Cromartie and Skrine. You might be able to put Milliner on that list, but even as a former first-round pick, he's not totally safe; after all, it was the previous regime—not the current one—that made him such a high draft choice.

The battle for roster spots could come down to which players have the most to offer on special teams. In that respect, Walls, Williams and Phillips could be the ones with a leg up on the competition. Each of them has experience covering kicks, whether in college or the NFL.

One thing is certain: The Jets have more size and more talent at cornerback than almost any time before. That's good news for Bowles' defense, which will hold its secondary to very high standards, but not good news for the final cornerbacks trying to crack the roster.

Unless otherwise noted, all advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus.