Not only did the Jets’ trade for Antonio Cromartie give Darrelle Revis support at cornerback, it changed how the team will approach next month’s draft.

Before acquiring Cromartie from the Chargers three weeks ago, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum believed his only other option to upgrade the cornerback position was to use the team’s first-round pick, 29th overall.

“We thought corner was an absolute must,” Tannenbaum said on ESPN New York (via Sports Radio Interviews). “We felt that we had to improve that position. So Cromartie was the key to the offseason because, looking at our options, it was the Cromartie trade -– or it was the 29th pick in the draft. To get that out of the way, we really enhanced our draft because now we can say that whatever happens in the draft, we can take whoever we want. Move up, move down we can get what we want. Without Cromartie, at the 29th pick in the draft, we would have taken a corner.”

Our experts agree with Tannenbaum and believe the Jets now will target wide receivers who can help QB Mark Sanchez at No. 29. Bucky Brooks has Georgia Tech WR Demaryius Thomas going to the Jets in his latest mock draft, and Pat Kirwan likes Oklahoma State WR Dez Bryant in that spot.

The Jets’ lack of need at cornerback might be good for the Vikings, who hold the No. 30 pick and need help in the secondary. Brooks has Rutgers CB Devin McCourty heading to Minnesota, and Kirwan pegs USC safety Taylor Mays to wear purple.

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