Cromartie wants to test free-agent market

Jets cornerback and free agent-to-be Antonio Cromartie said he would test the open market once the free-agency period begins but didn't rule out re-signing with the Jets.

The Pro Bowler said Tuesday morning on SiriusXM NFL Radio that there's "no such thing as a hometown discount." But Cromartie said there's a good chance he could remain a Jet once the lockout ends.

"The chances are great," Cromartie said on the "Sirius Blitz" program with Adam Schein and Rich Gannon. "Rex Ryan is a great coach and I love playing for him. When the time comes, I'm definitely going to give them the first opportunity."

Cromartie is one of 17 unrestricted free agents the Jets will have to decide on once the lockout is lifted. The 27-year-old finished with 42 tackles and three interceptions last season, his first with the Jets after being acquired in a trade from San Diego in March 2010 for a conditional draft pick that became a second-rounder. He had signed a five-year, $12.5-million deal with the Chargers in 2006.

Once a collective-bargaining agreement is ratified and the lockout is lifted, teams will reportedly have a 72-hour window to try to re-sign their own free agents before those players are free to sign elsewhere.

Cromartie said he will tell the Jets he plans to hear other offers. "I'm not giving anybody a discount," Cromartie said. "I'm definitely going to see what the organization says and also tell them that I would like to go out and test the market and see what my value is."

Cromartie said he will be watching closely to see where cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, who will be the top free-agent defensive back on the market, signs, too. Cromartie indicated he may want to wait until after Asomugha decides which team to join.

"If he ends up signing something, then it's going to be better for me, also," Cromartie said. "At the end of the day, he's going to set the market for corners."

Cromartie added that he has been doing research and listed Tampa Bay, Seattle, Arizona, Dallas and Oakland as teams he feels could be a fit.

As for the free-agency period itself, Cromartie said, "It is going to be chaos."

Cromartie weighed in on teammate and wide receiver Santonio Holmes, who will also be a free agent, saying he should be the Jets' No. 1 offseason priority, not Braylon Edwards.

"[Holmes] is a guy that fits well into the system," Cromartie said. "He does everything asked of him. He never goes out and complains. He comes in and does his work and tries to be on the same page as [quarterback] Mark Sanchez."