New York Jets

Dee Milliner: 3 potential landing spots

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Aug 4, 2014; Cortland, NY, USA; New York Jets cornerback Dee Milliner (27) walks out to the field prior to the start of training camp at SUNY Cortland. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets placed former ninth overall pick, Dee Milliner on the waived/injured list. Milliner cleared waivers and is now on the Jets Injured Reserve List.

What does this all mean? Well, because Milliner was placed on IR before 4 p.m. Sunday, he is not eligible to return to the field with the Jets, per NJ.com. However, if he and the Jets reach an injury settlement, he would be granted release and would become a free agent. Assuming this does happen, let’s take a look at possible hot spots for Milliner to revitalize his career.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders are an intriguing spot for Milliner based on how poor their secondary was a year ago. Oakland underwent a renovation at the position, finding a gem in David Amerson who was claimed off of waivers a year ago, and signing former Kansas City Chiefs corner Sean Smith. These acquisitions shored up the starting unit, but questions remain about their depth.

D.J. Hayden hasn’t quite yet played his way out of Oakland just yet and is listed as the third corner on the depth chart via 247 Sports. Hayden was selected just three spots behind Milliner in the same draft.

Both corners have been plagued by injuries and poor play, but perhaps both players could use a change in scenery. T.J. Carrie played a variety of roles for the Raiders last season due to injuries in the secondary. He saw time at both safety positions and inside and outside as well at corner. He played well and is a valuable chip for Oakland, but Hayden had more reps with the starting unit in preseason.

At 6-foot-0, Milliner isn’t nearly as tall and lanky as Smith and Amerson (both 6-foot-3) but he would fit in nicely with a defense that will play more man to man coverage. If Milliner could regain his 2013 form, Oakland would benefit from his physical play.

Cleveland Browns

With the Browns trading former first-round pick Justin Gilbert to the Steelers for a sixth-round pick in 2018, Cleveland is razor-thin at corner and could use any sort of potential at this point. Tramon Williams and Joe Hayden will start, but Hayden played just five games a season ago and Williams is 33 years old. It wasn’t long ago that Hayden was a lockdown corner who NFL quarterbacks shied away from. Injuries have run their course on Hayden however, and 2016 will be a big year for him.

Typically years three or four into the league are where corners start to bloom. Milliner is entering his fourth year in the league, and could turn around his career with a new home. Browns head coach Hue Jackson is truly a players coach. He’ll put Milliner in the best position to thrive.

Milliner (corner located on the top of the screen) has had a hard time adjusting to zone coverage in the NFL. He’s had his fair share of struggles anticipating route breaks, compared to when he was at Alabama and played a ton of man-to-man coverage and run stride for stride with receivers.

Milliner has never really got accustomed to back-pedaling from a press technique at the NFL. Watching his tape, he’s thrived when he’s played press-bail coverage, keeping the receiver inside. The Browns could use cornerback depth, there’s no doubting that. They waived nickel corner K’Wuan Williams back on August 12, resulting in Jamar Taylor occupying that spot, at least for now.

Aug 20, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan during the second half against the New York Giants at New Era Field. Bills beat the Giants 21 to 0. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills

Unlike Cleveland, Buffalo has a stable of high-quality cornerbacks, including Stephon Gilmore, Ronald Darby, and nickel corner Nickell (no pun intended) Roby. All three are players head coach Rex Ryan can shuffle around to his pleasure. But Milliner spent two full seasons with Ryan in New York. He runs a nearly identical scheme as he did in New York, but this time around he’ll be sure to put Milliner in a spot that suits him the best, and not just implementing players into a scheme.

Buffalo seems fitting, as Ryan can never have too many cornerbacks on his hands. In the summer of 2013, Milliner showed enough throughout training camp for Ryan to insert him into the starting corner spot opposite Antonio Cromartie.

In hindsight, this was obviously a premature move as Milliner struggled to get his foot in the door in the early months of the 2013 season. He spent his rookie year covering teams second and sometimes even number one receivers, a tall task for a rookie corner. Cornerback is regarded as the second or third toughest position to adjust to in the NFL, behind quarterback and offensive tackle. Milliner started in 12 games his rookie year, only to go on to start two more in 2014, and 2015 combined.

Milliner picked up his play and earned rookie of the month in December of 2013. Against the Browns in his rookie year, he did a good job slowing down Josh Gordon (an All-Pro in 2013) as Milliner had six pass break-ups and an interception. The thought at the time was Milliner would develop into the Jets number one corner and would be the blueprint to the team’s success. While this certainly wasn’t the case, Milliner could earn another shot with the Bills.

Ryan isn’t shy on picking up former Jets and he knows the potential that Milliner has. Milliner is just 24 years old and has plenty of football left in him. Ryan likes aggressive, physical play on the defensive side of the ball, particularly in his corners. Milliner can bring that to this team, that will try and slow down Tom Brady and the New England Patriots once again.