When Rex Ryan & Co. revisit the Jets’ transaction-friendly off-season sometime next February, there will be one move that will stand out above the rest: Trading for Antonio Cromartie.

Ryan’s defense is a schematic anomaly – built in reverse – that puts a premium on cornerbacks. While the blueprint for most teams is to build from the front seven and back, Ryan has altered that long-standing approach by fortifying the back end first. While off-season acquisitions like LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor and Santonio Holmes grab the headlines, Cromartie – who will replace Lito Sheppard as the No. 2 corner opposite Darrelle Revis – will make the biggest impact.

Here’s why: The Jets put a premium on man-to-man, bump-and-run corners to help facilitate the disguised blitz packages that Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine like to call. Look no further than the Jets’ draft strategy to understand that they value corners over defensive lineman. Sure, the Jets will have to address an aging defensive line that includes 30-somethings Kris Jenkins, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, and Shaun Ellis. But there’s a reason why the braintrust selected CB Kyle Wilson in the first round.

If Cromartie, who primarily played off coverage last season with the Chargers, returns to his former Pro Bowl self, the Jets defense will be downright scary.

“I think he’s an upgrade over Lito – a clear upgrade over Lito,” Pettine told me. “He fits our style of football. When you have your wide receiver line up outside the numbers, we’re going to eliminate him. That’s the one thing this kid can do. … And I think we upgraded over Kerry (Rhodes) with Brodney Pool and the existing safeties that we had. So we feel we’ve taken the secondary that finished No. 1 in the league and made improvements to it.”

When it became obvious that the mercurial Cromartie, whose production had slipped since recording an NFL-high 10 interceptions in 2007, was available, the Jets ran to the film room.

“We loved him coming out (of college),” Pettine said. “We watched him when the possibility came up to trade him. Myself and (Jets defensive backs coach) Dennis Thurman spent a lot of time watching him on tape.”

In the end, Cromartie, who was acquired for a third-round pick, and Wilson are schematic fits for the Jets.

“They played him off a lot (in San Diego),” Pettine said of Cromartie. “That’s their style…. For example, we had Wilson rated higher than Devin McCourty, whereas the Patriots had McCourty higher than Wilson. That’s a style thing. They’re more of a zone team. A lot of times, they roll their corners up and get them involved in run support. We don’t do that nearly as much.”

Pettine also dismissed the notion that Cromartie’s tackling concerns in the past will affect him with his new team.

“Chris McAlister in Baltimore used to say, ‘Hey, show me a corner that can tackle and I’ll show you one that can’t cover.’” Pettine said. “Revis is the rare example of a super physical guy that can also cover. The tradeoff is that most physical guys don’t have elite man cover skills. For what we do schematically — we play so much man coverage or zone coverages that turn into man down the field as anyone – (Cromartie) fits.”

“We feel the mentality of our lockerroom – the way we play – will raise the level up of a guy as far as his willingness to tackle and all the other things that Cromartie’s been knocked for,” Pettine added. “Dennis Thurman said there’s a corollary to ‘Play like a Jet.’ It’s ‘Cover like a Jet.’ That kind of comes first. So, I think Cromartie’s going to do fine with us. …He’s a freakish athlete.”

A few weeks ago, I reviewed the tape of the AFC Championship Game again to examine the Colts’ 4-play, 80-yard drive right before halftime that changed the complexion of the game and ultimately proved to be the difference between the Jets’ packing for Miami and scheduling their tee times. Simply put, the secondary was exposed in those 58 seconds. Four plays ultimately set the Jets on a course this offseason that landed them Cromartie and Wilson.

Revis has already told me that the Jets are gearing up for another potential showdown with Peyton Manning, who carved up the secondary en route to the Super Bowl berth.

Here’s a closer look at how the Jets’ lack of physical play in the secondary on that drive proved costly.

PLAY No. 1: 2nd and 10 from Indy 20. (3 WR set)

• Darrelle Revis is on Reggie Wayne on the far left side of the formation
• Dwight Lowery is on Pierre Garcon on the right side
• Drew Coleman is on Austin Collie in the left slot

Recap: Although the Jets’ 3 CBs are up on the line of scrimmage, only Revis jams his man. Garcon and Collie are allowed free releases. Result: 18-yard completion to Collie.

PLAY No. 2: 1st and 10 from Indy 38. (3 WR set)

• Revis on Wayne on far left
• Lowery on Garcon on far right
• Coleman on Collie in right slot

Recap: For the second consecutive snap, Revis is the only corner to jam his receiver. Collie gets another free release, runs an inside double-move (out and up) for a 46-yard completion. Manning throws a near-perfect pass over Coleman’s fingertips. (Wilson, who will be the nickel CB in the slot, is 5-10… exactly one inch taller than Coleman, who admittedly mistimed that jump).

PLAY No. 3: 1st and 10 from Jets 16. (3 WR set).

Recap: Collie gets another free release from the slot before his third straight reception – a 16-yard TD. For what it’s worth, the Jets looked lost in their zone coverage.

It’s no secret that the Jets don’t want a repeat performance of that nightmarish drive. Ryan has already admitted that the Cromartie trade could be the most important move the Jets made this offseason.

Only time will tell if he’s right.

It looks like Bryan Thomas is holding on to No. 99… for now. Jason Taylor listed as No. 95 on team’s official roster.