In The Market For A Cornerback

Nov 25, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) dives for a first down on a fourth down and 29 play to keep the Ravens drive alive as San Diego Chargers cornerback Quentin Jammer (23) and cornerback Antoine Cason (20) tackle him at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

In 2008, I was utterly thrilled when Antoine Cason was drafted in the 1st round by the San Diego Chargers. Cason was the 4th cornerback off the board and, at the time, graded higher than Brandon Flowers, and it was expected that Cason’s career would be far superior to Flowers’. We were on the verge of having three solid cornerbacks. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite pan out that way. In 2007 (the season before), Quentin Jammer had a solid season and Antonio Cromartie had led the league with 10 interceptions. Add in the development of Eric Weddle, we had the potential to have a deep and threatening defensive backfield. Cromartie is gone but nobody really cares and Jammer is aging and his shutdown days are behind him. Cason is a free agent but not necessarily the best free agent cornerback on the market. No doubt we should spend our 1st round pick in the draft on a Offensive Tackle. The 2nd round we could either go guard or cornerback. There are plenty of quality corners in the draft yet there are equally plenty of quality and cost effective corners on the market. Let’s take a look:1) Brent Grimes (Atlanta Falcons) – We’ve had problems with injury-prone players, but if Grimes can stay healthy, and if his torn Achilles’ tendon from last season were to have no negative impacts, he may be a steal. Unfortunately, in six years he’s only managed to play one full season. When he is playing more than eight games he can be quite the ball hawk! We could take a chance on him, but only for the right price.2) Keenan Lewis (Pittsburgh Steelers) – Nothing notable came about Lewis until this past season displaying himself as a sound cover corner. He’s young, only 26 and under his first season as a full-time starter he didn’t disappoint, knocking down 23 passes. One thing that goes against Lewis is his lack of interceptions. He reminds me of Jammer when he was about this age.3) Cary Williams (Baltimore Ravens) – For the past five years, Williams bounced back and forth between the Ravens and the Tennessee Titans before he finally settled into a starting role in 2011. Since then he’s been stellar. He still has the capacity to get better; last season during his second full start he was making better reads, following through with smoother tackles and finally making picks last season. Now that Flacco flushed the bank on the Baltimore Ravens this may be our chance to steal him away.So, Boltbeat fans! There is my list of could-be and might-be Charger cornerbacks for next season. What are your thoughts? Which cornerback would you like to see in blue and gold lighting bolts?