The Giants continued to bulk up their secondary on Monday, signing CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a five-year, $35 million contract. They previously added Walter Thurmond III and Quintin Demps.
In Rodgers-Cromartie, New York gets one of the league’s better cover corners. Last season, he allowed receivers to catch just 30 of the 68 passes thrown into his coverage, while recording 10 passes defensed and three interceptions.
At the same time, Rodgers-Cromartie can be a bit allergic to contact, to borrow from Mike Mayock. In six seasons as a pro, Rodgers-Cromartie’s highest tackle total came in 2012 when he put up 51 total tackles in 1,020 snaps.
However, the Giants aren’t signing him for his physicality. Rodgers-Cromartie will play opposite Prince Amukamara, with Thurmond likely serving as the nickel corner. His presence bodes positively for Amukamara’s fantasy stock, as quarterbacks could potentially be looking his way more frequently. Last season Amukamara was fantasy's No. 20 defensive back in PFF IDP scoring.
The Rodgers-Cromartie and Thurmond signings all but end Terrell Thomas’ tenure with the team, as it’s extremely unlikely he’ll be extended an offer. Thomas has generated little interest on the open market despite his somewhat productive return after missing the previous two seasons with successive ACL injuries. It’s quite possible Thomas finds a landing spot, but the 29-year-old is one major injury away from calling it a career.
Rodgers-Cromartie does offer big-play upside, but his tackle floor is so low that fantasy owners will want to avoid him in all formats.
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Jeff Ratcliffe is the Assistant Managing Editor and resident IDP maven of PFF Fantasy.
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