The Jets acquired Antonio Cromartie from the Chargers for a…
The Jets acquired Antonio Cromartie from the Chargers for a conditional 2011 pick that ultimately escalated to a second-round selection, No. 61, used on Jonas Mouton. Cromartie became an important starting corner in New York, while Mouton’s Chargers career produced little regular-season value. The final draft compensation makes San Diego’s return more substantial on paper, but the realized outcome still gives the Jets a clear win.
Los Angeles Chargers Received
- pick 2011 second round pick (#61-Jonas Mouton)
New York Jets Received
- player Antonio Cromartie
Trade Analysis
The Exchange
On March 5, 2010, the Jets completed a trade for cornerback Antonio Cromartie from the Chargers. The compensation was not a 2010 seventh-round pick. Contemporary NFL reporting described a conditional 2011 third that could escalate, and the Chargers’ official trade history records the final result as the 2011 second-round pick at No. 61, used on linebacker Jonas Mouton. The documented draft asset is therefore the 2011 second-round pick at No. 61.
New York Jets Return
Cromartie immediately became a major part of New York’s secondary opposite Darrelle Revis. The Jets received a starting-caliber corner at a time when they were built to contend, and the condition on the pick escalated because his performance met the required threshold. He remained with New York beyond the initial season and provided substantially more NFL value than the player San Diego selected with the acquired choice.
Los Angeles Chargers Return
The Chargers ultimately held the 61st pick of the 2011 draft and selected Jonas Mouton. A second-round return for a veteran corner was meaningful draft capital, so the process of converting Cromartie into a premium Day 2 selection was defensible. The problem is the outcome: Mouton’s Chargers career was derailed by injuries and produced very little regular-season contribution, leaving the club without comparable realized value.
Value in Hindsight
The final compensation makes the Chargers’ side look better than a seventh-round return would, but hindsight still strongly favors New York. The Jets paid a second-rounder only after Cromartie met performance conditions, meaning the higher price corresponded with the player delivering useful value. San Diego had a valuable selection but failed to turn it into an equivalent contributor. The difference is outcome, not the quality of the original asset received.
Final Verdict
The Jets win. New York earns a B+ for obtaining a high-level starting corner during a competitive window. The Chargers receive a D+ because they did secure a second-round pick, but the selected player did not provide enough production to offset the loss of Cromartie.