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Buffalo Bills to meet with free agent CB Antonio Cromartie, per report

The former New York Jets cornerback is a free agent, and had a run of success with Rex Ryan. Could they be reunited in Buffalo?

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

According to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport, the Buffalo Bills are expected to meet with free agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

Cromartie, 31, started 15 games for the Jets last season (missing the TNF tilt against the Bills), but failed to record an interception for the first time since his rookie season in 2006.

Cromartie played under Bills head coach Rex Ryan with the Jets from 2010-13, where he teamed with Darrelle Revis to form one of the league's better cornerback tandems. He recorded a total of 13 interceptions in those four seasons, three of which saw the Jets finish in the top six in pass defense. He departed to spend the 2014 season with the Arizona Cardinals, but followed defensive coordinator Todd Bowles back to New York when Bowles was named the Jets' head coach.

Cromartie was on a four-year deal with the Jets, but was cut this offseason to create $8 million in cap space. As a result, he is free to meet with any team and sign before the new league year opens on March 9. A return to the Jets at a reduced salary is possible, but there is certainly a role for him with the Bills. Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby both missed games due to injury last season, Leodis McKelvin is a possible cap casualty, and backups Nickell Robey and Mario Butler both had their share of struggles. Cromartie would capably be able to serve the nickel DB role and fill in as a corner if either starter went down, assuming he's willing to sign with the Bills for much less than he had been slated to make this season.