Cornerback Dee Milliner, the ninth overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, signed a four-year, $12.66 million contract with the New York Jets.
The Alabama All-American hasn’t practiced with the Jets since he was drafted in April and is still recovering from March shoulder surgery. When cleared medically, he’s expected to compete for the left cornerback job made available when the Jets traded All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“We think we’re going to be OK,” Ryan said. “He was a great player and he was a good teammate. Certainly you miss that.”
Milliner receives a $7.6 million signing bonus as part of the deal, which left Tennessee Titans offensive guard Chance Warmack as the last remaining unsigned first-round pick.
Milliner will compete with another former first-round pick, Kyle Wilson, opposite Antonio Cromartie. Ryan said during organized team activities that the Jets essentially have three starting cornerbacks because of the frequency in which the team used its nickel defense.
Ryan said Saturday he’d become frustrated by Milliner’s absence.