The Giants bolstered their defensive backfield on Monday by signing one of the biggest names on the free agency market: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
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"Grade: B-plus. Rodgers-Cromartie is an extremely talented player who eliminated a lot of the streakier aspects of his play with the right kind of coaching. With head coach Tom Coughlin and defensive coordinator Perry Fewell now in charge of his development, he should continue on that roll."
"With the Giants, Rodgers-Cromartie is reunited with safety Antrel Rolle, a former teammate with the Arizona Cardinals, where Rodgers-Cromartie was a first-round pick in 2008.
"Rodgers-Cromartie started 15 regular season games and three postseason games for the Broncos last season, and caught three interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown. One of his interceptions came off Giants quarterback Eli Manning in a Week 2 game at MetLife Stadium."
"He saw the Giants bring in free agent after free agent, rebuilding a beleaguered secondary, revamping a struggling linebacking corps and reinventing the offense. And Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie wanted in."
"After Champ Bailey went down with a foot injury in the preseason, Rodgers-Cromartie became the Broncos' top cornerback. Playing mostly at right corner, Rodgers-Cromartie shadowed the opponents' No. 1 receiver at times. One of the NFL's tallest cornerbacks at 6-foot-2, Rodgers-Cromartie also has long arms and legs that allow him to close on a receiver."
"By signing Rodgers-Cromartie, the Giants are able to take some pressure off of their traditionally-dependable pass rush. Last year, as the team accumulated data on decreased quarterback snap-to-throw times against them, an obvious adjustment that neutralized one of the team's biggest strengths, the need for more coverage sacks presented itself.
"Pairing the new addition with Prince Amukamara, an ascending corner, won't get them all the way there. But it will be a start."
"Rodgers-Cromartie started 13 games for the Broncos last season, his first year in Denver. DRC tied for the team lead with three interceptions. One of those three picks came in Week 2, when Rodgers-Cromartie intercepted Eli Manning in Denver's 41-23 win over the Giants.
"Three of DRC's 19 career interceptions have actually come against his new teammate. Besides Manning, one other Giants player who will be happy to see Rodgers-Cromartie in New York is safety Antrel Rolle."
"The Rodgers-Cromartie signing comes a day after the Giants signed former Seattle Seahawks nickelback Walter Thurmond. The two provide the Giants with a big upgrade in the secondary, an important target for general manager Jerry Reese. The Giants re-signed Trumaine McBride and Stevie Brown, while adding depth in free agency with Quintin Demps to go along with DRC and Thurmond."
"Rodgers-Cromartie was considered the best cornerback still on the market in free agency and, combined with the weekend signing of former Seahawks cornerback Walter Thurmond III and ex-Chiefs safety Quintin Demps, gives the Giants the makings of a formidable secondary this season."
