Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

New York Giants: Is Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie The Answer After Beal’s Injury?

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The New York Giants improved a lot over the offseason, but the one spot that still needs more depth is cornerback. More than any other position, if you compare the Giants’ position groups from top to bottom. After supplemental draftee Sam Beal was signed to a four year contract, some thought that he would be the one to impress and win a spot in the cornerback rotation.

Those hopes were dashed when Beal sustained a season ending injury just before the start of training camp. It was a weird an unlucky injury, one that came only a little more than a full week after Beal joined the Giants. Now, the team is left looking for a cornerback to sign. Again.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie wasn’t brought back for another season in New York, but he’s in the conversation once again after going unsigned with the rest of the league. Cromartie played from 2014 to 2017 with the Giants but was released in March in a move that saved six and a half million dollars in cap space.

The cap situation is a problem that hasn’t gone away, especially after the Giants spent to bring in veteran pass rusher Connor Barwin. The estimated numbers give the Giants less than two million to spend on more additions, and it’s going to be very hard or impossible to get Cromartie back on the team with numbers like that.

Of course, Cromartie might get desperate. He wasn’t able to find another team, and if he wants to play in the NFL again this season, the Giants could be a way to do that. We don’t have the details of the offers that Cromartie received from other teams, so it’s impossible to tell just what his value is right now, and how low he would be willing to go.

Cromartie did tweet that he missed his teammates with the Giants. But just how badly does he want to return to New York? Any deal that can be made within the current cap situation would force Cromartie to take a contract that would be on par with someone of the team’s rookies and second year players such as Dalvin Tomlinson.

Really, it looks unlikely that the Giants will be able to pull the trigger on a deal to bring back DRC, even if it’s what the team would like because of their past experience with the player. Former Steelers corner William Gay was signed in mid April, and it’s more likely that Gay is given the nod in the rotation rather than DRC or Beal, with the latter being out of the race because of his injury.

Cromartie being signed by the Giants is a move that everyone would like. But after the addition of Connor Barwin took up some more of the little cap space that the team has left, it’s just not one that looks feasible given the fact that Cromartie didn’t take a pay cut to stay with the Giants in the first place.

New York Giants: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Mentions Possible Return

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Despite the Washington Redskins calling on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s services, he still might be in play for a return to the New York Giants.

While at the Landon Collins annual soft ball game for charity, the Giants’ former cornerback hinted that “Ya’ll might see me again,” according to Art Stapleton.

Who is in line to grab the starting slot corner spot?

With William Gay and Grant Haley the only true slot corners on the roster, the Giants might be in serious trouble on the interior. There’s no doubt that DRC is one of the most prolific slot corners in the game, as his speed and quickness allows him to stick with his assignment. Not to mention his leadership and good attitude in the locker room. He would certainly fit the bill for the culture change, but his monetary asking price was a bit more than GM Dave Gettleman was willing to offer.

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One of DRC’s strengths is his durability, as he’s played in at least 15 games for the last six seasons. At 32 years old, he won’t be an every down corner, which attests to his six games started last season. In 2016, he managed six interceptions, 41 tackles, and 21 passes defended. He’s only one season removed from arguably his best year.

If the Giants can manage to grab him for a solid price – maybe one-year, $3-3.5 million, they could bolster their secondary and provide durability and experience where there are undrafted free agents fighting for a starting spot. While Penn States’s Haley presents a great youth option, he’s nowhere near starting caliber in the NFL. He needs time to develop and grow alongside an established veteran, which makes the signing of DRC an even more enticing idea.

Is A Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Reunion Possible For The New York Giants?

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Losing Dominique Rogers-Cromartie this off-season was a major hit to the New York Giants secondary. The 32 year-old was set to count approximately $5 million against the salary cap, which was far too expensive for the Giants’ taste.

Apparently, every other team in the NFL happens to agree with that. Rogers-Cromartie is still looking for a home, one that is looking to cash in on the old but still talented corner back. Since he has tested the market and realized that no team is going to pick him up for such a price, he might consider a return to the Giants if possible.

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Despite the renewed faith in Eli Apple and shutdown corner in Janoris Jenkins already featured on the defense, Big blue lacks a true slot corner. DRC is one of the best slot corners in the league and would immediately improve the secondary and further promote the new win-first culture.

The benefits would only add on to the hype of this modified Giants football team, for it was not their intention to release Cromartie, but it was his intention to receive more money. Now that he sees that no one is going to offer him what he wants, there shouldn’t be a problem in coming back to Big Blue, a home where he was quite successful.

What DRC brings to the table:

We know that the Giants have gotten better on both sides of the football, which should create opportunity for even more success for DRC. Last season was not one of his best performances, but we can be fair enough to say that everyone on the Giants had a bad season last year.

If you take a look at the season prior, he had 6 interceptions which tied his career high, and 21 passes defended. He will be surrounded by much more talent this season and he was one of the big leaders in the locker room for the Giants. Which is crucial in Eli Apple’s case, for he needs all of the mentoring and guidance that he can get.

Looking into next season and even the future, I believe that Cromartie can offer at least two more good years, for there was a time where he was one of the elite corners in the league. He has built up a reputation that holds him as one of the best cover corners in the NFL, thanks to his lightening quick speed and agility. If the Giants were to go and try to reach for Cromartie, it wouldn’t be the worst idea. In fact, it might be one of the few pieces that the Giants are missing on defense.

The Giants currently have about $7 million in cap space remaining after the signing of former Carolina WR Russell Shepard. They have yet to sign first-round pick Saquon Barkley as well, which should take up a decent chunk of cap. DRC would need to agree to a contract in the $2-3 million range, which would be the absolute max the Giants can spend.

The Giants Need A Cornerback, Here Are Their Best Remaining Options

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With the New York Giants boasting Janoris Jenkins and Eli Apple at cornerback, there is still a lack of overall talent at the position. Finding value with minimal cap will be a priority of GM Dave Gettleman.

Here are a few remaining options on the FA market:

 

1.) Bashaud Breeland

Breeland has proved to be injury prone over the years, but when he’s healthy, he’s a decent corner. He had an atrocious 2016 season, and while he improved in 2017, it wasn’t enough for Washington to bring him back.

The Giants could likely grab him on a minimum deal and hope that he can reach his full potential in a different environment.

2.) Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

Good old DRC. We love the guy, but he’s getting old and certainly can’t survive an entire season as a starting outside corner anymore. His cap-hit was previously $6 million. He refused to take a significant pay-cut which ultimately led to his release.

Moving forward, it’s possible we reunite with the veteran corner, even after making visits to the Washington Redskins and others. He would have to agree to a deal in the $3-4 million per-season range, but having him back would be a cultural power move and a familiar face for the remaining Giants.

3.) Adam Pacman-Jones

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Pacman-Jones is a 12-year veteran and brings experience and leadership to the locker room. He only played and started in nine games last season, but before that he had only missed two-games in five years.

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He’s a punt-returning specialist and pass-defending connoisseur. In the past five seasons, Jones has racked up 49 passes defended and 11 interceptions. He earned $6 million last year, but would likely garner only a fraction of that with the Giants. His services aren’t worth $6 million anymore, and would likely settle for a veteran deal in the $3 million range.

4.) Marcus Cooper

Cooper is somewhat of a journeyman in the NFL, spending time on the Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, and Chicago Bears. As a five-year veteran (28 years old), he knows the game and would bring experience  to a Giants team that’s on a youth movement.

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In 2016, Cooper had four interceptions before being shipped off to the Bears. If he was given the opportunity to become comfortable on a single team and learn the defense, he might be a quality player to have around. Additionally, he would be affordable, landing in the $3 million per-season range.

 

This Sucks: Cornerbacks That Can Replace DRC For The Giants

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New York Giants, Prince Amukamara

The New York Giants released veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on Sunday, freeing up $6.5 million in cap-space. The movement from veteran to youth is now in full effect, and general manager Dave Gettleman isn’t waiting around to start the overhaul.

We should expect to see more cuts in the coming days, but for now let’s delve into who could potentially replace Rodgers-Cromartie at corner:

1.) Indianapolis Colts: Rashaan Melvin

The 28-year-old cornerback emerged as the best cover corner on the Colts last season, but it was against all odds as he was never considered as such before.

The Giants could pursue Melvin in free agency and likely lock him up to a reasonable deal that would cost less than DRC was set to count. Melvin made less than $1 million last year as a five-year veteran, and will likely only garner $2-3 million per-season on the free agent market.

With a supporting cast of Landon Collins, Janoris Jenkins, Ross Cockrell (if he’s re-signed) and Eli apple behind him, he might be the perfect guy to compete for a starting role on the defense.

2.)  Chicago Bears: Bryce Callahan

The 26 year-old corner has improved in every season he’s been in the league, and at such a young age, the sky is the limit.

There’s reason to believe he could garner a big contract in the coming years, but if the Giants lock him down for the long-term, he could be a steal in free agency.

A $2-3 million per-season deal over three-years could be a good move for the Giants, who are trying to bring in more youth.

3.) Chicago Bears: Prince Amukamara

Anybody remember the Prince? Well, he could be on his way back to New York. At 29-years-old, Amukamara is on the older side, but has extreme value at the right price.

There’s no doubt that Amukamara is talented and a skilled corner, but his injury history is the biggest concern. If he can stay healthy, he would be a great pickup for the Giants.

His worth might be too much for the Giants to offer, but it’s possible they can lock him in for $4.5-5 million per-season on a two-year deal. He might prefer the stability rather than testing his worth on a “prove” it deal.

 

 

New York Giants Ask Cornerback To Take Significant Pay-cut

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Only a few days after the New York Giants planned to move cornerback Dominique Rodgers-cromartie to safety, another proposition is being asked of the veteran.

Rodgers-Cromartie has been asked to take a significant pay-cut (he’s set to count $6.5 million against the cap).

The possibilities:

It’s possible the Giants decide to cut ties with the veteran cornerback and save a nice chunk of change, despite him being a fan-favorite.

DRC signed a five-years, $35 million contract in 2014, proving to be well worth the investment. He has been one of the Giants’ most consistent defenders over the course of his tenure, and would likely continue to be so if kept on the team.

It’s unknown what amount the Giants are asking him to forfeit, but we can assume it’s hefty, especially as a veteran that’s not capable of playing every play throughout the entire season.

If he’s willing to give up $3 million of his contract to lower his cap-hit to $3.5 million, the Giants might consider retaining one of the league’s top slot-corner.  Offering incentives of play could also be an additional benefit the Giants could offer him.