We noted a week ago that a rumor was making the rounds in league circles, apparently perpetuated by Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips, that San Diego would trade cornerback Antonio Cromartie to Dallas for running back Tashard Choice.
That specific trade was shot down by reporters in Dallas who insisted there was nothing to it, but ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that the Chargers do, in fact, want to trade Cromartie for a running back.
Per Mortensen, with LaDainian Tomlinson almost certain to leave and Darren Sproles about to become a restricted free agent, acquiring a running back is a high priority for the Chargers. The Chargers would apparently like to either trade for a veteran, or trade for a draft pick that would give them a better chance of acquiring a running back they want in the draft.
Although Cromartie started all 16 games in 2009, Mortensen reports that he’s fallen out of favor with the Chargers, and that they’d be happy to head into 2010 with Quentin Jammer and Antoine Cason as their starters at cornerback.