With Quentin Jammer named CB1, it’s between Antonio Cromartie and Casey Hayward left to battle it out for the CB2 spot.
Quentin Jammer, the longest tenured cornerback this century for the Bolts, ended up being our first player named to the position on the Chargers Quarter Century Team. Behind him vying for the CB2 spot are two short-tenured cornerbacks that still managed to leave their mark on the franchise this century.
Which one will win out: Casey Hayward or Antonio Cromartie?
Let’s get to the poll!
Antonio Cromartie (2006-2009)
The Chargers drafted Cromartie in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft out of Florida State University. Cromartie did not start a single game as a rookie, and he only started eight in his sophomore campaign, but that didn’t stop him from being name a First-Team All-Pro in 2007 after leading the NFL with 10 interceptions to go with one touchdown and 18 pass breakups. He also returned a missed field goal 109 yards which is tied for the longest play in NFL history and unsurprisingly made that year’s Pro Bowl, as well.
Cromartie only played four seasons with the Chargers before being traded to the New York Jets, but he left with one of the biggest impacts by a cornerback this century.
Casey Hayward (2017-2020)
Hayward joined the Chargers as a free agent following a four-year stint with the Green Bay Packers. In his first year with the Bolts, Hayward broke out to lead the NFL with seven interceptions and 20 pass breakups en route to earning the first of two Second-Team All-Pro honors while with the Chargers (2016-2017). He was also named to the Pro Bowl those two years, as well.
In all, Hayward averaged 13 pass breakups and just under three interceptions per season with the Chargers and he had his fingerprints all over the 2018 campaign that saw the Bolts record a 12-4 record, which is still one of the best years since 2000.