On May 18th, ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote an article explaining why the New York Giants should look into trading Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, which probably came as a big surprise to Big Blue fans, but could the writing be on the wall for DRC’s departure?
Rodgers-Cromartie is coming off a Pro Bowl year in which he only missed one game and earned an approximate value of 9 from Pro Football Reference. Dominique had three interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, and could’ve had another pick six and a couple other INTs that he dropped. DRC also had a fumble recovery for a score and knocked down 13 passes to add to his 58 combined tackles. That’s with Prince Amukamara missing five games and the duo of Trevin Wade and Jayron Hosley on the other side.
Now with pricey free agent acquisition Janoris Jenkins and first round draft pick Eli Apple, the G-Men have three solid cornerbacks who can blanket the top three wideouts. That could mean more opportunities for DRC to make plays, which means he could put up even better numbers than 2015. Why would Jerry Reese and company trade that away?
With the First Pick
Well, here’s Graziano’s reasoning:
"“The chances of Rodgers-Cromartie being on the 2017 Giants are incredibly small. His contract has no guaranteed money left, and he’d be a $4.5 million cap savings for them if released next spring, when he’ll be turning 31. His cap number this year is $8 million, same as Jenkins. But Jenkins’ cap number jumps to $15 million in 2017, which strongly indicates that Rodgers-Cromartie’s 2017 number of $8.5 million isn’t in their plans. He’s an extremely likely cut if he’s still on the roster after this season.”"
Seems a little presumptuous of Graziano to already write DRC off, but it looks like the G-Men will be strapped for salary cap space next offseason, having the 7th least cap space available in the league at around $9 million. DRC would be a cap hit of $8.5 million in 2017, which would be 7th highest on the payroll.
Releasing DRC before June 1, 2017 would cost the Giants $4 million in dead cap, and $2 million after June 1st of next year. As of right now, there will be 15 Giants entering free agency, the most paramount of whom will be Jason Pierre-Paul and Johnathan Hankins. Unless both of those players has subpar seasons, the Giants will most likely try their best to keep at least one. And that means cutting expensive contracts to make room.
The other big cap hits are Eli Manning, Olivier Vernon, Janoris Jenkins, Damon Harrison, and Justin Pugh. There’s no shot of them releasing Eli. They just signed Pugh to an extension, and the other three were just signed to huge agreements this past offseason.
However, Victor Cruz, Shane Vereen, and J.T. Thomas are also big cap hits and much more expendable with the additions of Sterling Shepard, Paul Perkins, and B.J. Goodson in the draft.
Next: Will Eli Surpass Elway On All-Time Greatest QBs List?
NJ.com’s James Kratch explains why the Giants need DRC in 2016…
With Eli Apple’s development still in its infant stages, trading DRC doesn’t make sense. But, if Apple progresses like the Giants hope, and DRC has another solid season, a trade could bring in some much needed help at other positions.