Antonio Cromartie Chargers Career Overview
Antonio Cromartie played for the San Diego Chargers from 2006 to 2010 after being selected 19th overall in the 2006 NFL Draft. He started 64 regular season games for the Chargers over five seasons and recorded 13 interceptions, including 3 returned for touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. His tenure with the Chargers ended after the 2010 season when he was traded to the New York Jets in exchange for a conditional draft pick.
The Chargers signed Cromartie to a six-year contract extension in 2007 that included approximately $28 million in guaranteed money, making him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks on the roster at the time. The deal was structured with a $10 million signing bonus and base salaries that escalated from $1.5 million in 2008 to over $6 million in the final guaranteed year. The contract details were disclosed in the team's official filing with the NFL and are documented on the Chargers' official website.
Contract Structure and Financial Terms
The Antonio Cromartie Chargers contract carried a total value of roughly $35 million with a $10 million signing bonus and $28 million guaranteed. The annual cap hits ranged from approximately $5.5 million in the early years to over $7 million in later seasons, based on standard NFL salary allocation rules. The deal included escalator clauses tied to playing time and Pro Bowl selections, which are common in veteran defensive back contracts.
NFL salary cap data for the 2006 through 2010 seasons shows that Cromartie's base salary and cap number placed him in the top tier of cornerbacks across the league. His contract was managed under the then-current collective bargaining agreement, which allowed for large guaranteed sums and signing bonuses that accelerated cap hits. The structure reflected the Chargers' need to stabilize a secondary that allowed the second-most passing yards in the AFC West during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Post-Chargers Career and Current Status
After leaving the Chargers, Antonio Cromartie played for the New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, and Indianapolis Colts before retiring after the 2017 NFL season. He finished his 12-year career with 38 interceptions and 4 defensive touchdowns, according to official NFL statistics. He has not held a coaching or front office role with the Chargers as of the latest available public records.
The San Diego Chargers rebranded to the Los Angeles Chargers in 2017 and continue to operate under the ownership of the Spanos family, with the franchise valued at approximately $4.6 billion as of the latest Forbes NFL valuations. Cromartie remains a former player associated with the team's history, and his contract is frequently cited in discussions of Chargers defensive back investments over the past two decades. The team's current cornerback depth chart and salary cap allocations are managed under the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement, which is documented on the NFL Players Association website.