After missing out on star cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Richard Sherman, the New England Patriots must set their sights on veteran cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who was recently released by the New York Giants. According to Rich Hill of PatsPulpit.com, the Patriots must take advantage of Rodgers-Cromartie, who was released by the Giants to save $6.5 million in salary cap. Hill said head coach Bill Belichick is known for taking in quality players who don’t align with the new leadership of another team. The 31-year-old cornerback was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015 and was named All-Pro in 2016.
However, his last season with the Giants was a disappointment, as he was suspended for a week by the team after a dispute with then-head coach Ben McAdoo.
Rodgers-Cromartie ideal corner for Patriots
Hill said Rodgers-Cromartie is an ideal cornerback who plays both outside and in the slot. Rodgers-Cromartie could also play alongside Stephon Gilmore, the Patriots’ No. 1 corner at this point. The Patriots’ other starting cornerback, Malcolm Butler, is expected to leave the team after he was benched by Belichick in Super Bowl LII. The Patriots also have Eric Rowe, Cyrus Jones and Jonathan Jones as cornerbacks, but they all lack experience, compared to the former Giants corner. Hill explained that the Patriots could use the veteran cornerback to play alongside Gilmore for 2018.
This will allow them to draft a cornerback who will eventually take over in 2019 or 2020. The Patriots were eyeing Talib and Sherman, but they failed to sign either of the two star cornerbacks. The Denver Broncos traded Talib to the Los Angeles Rams for a 2018 fifth-round pick. Sherman, for his part, was signed by the San Francisco 49ers to a three-year deal worth $39 million.
Rodgers-Cromartie a 10-year veteran
Rodgers-Cromartie is a 10-year NFL veteran who played for the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and the Giants, where he spent the last four seasons of his career. The Giants released the veteran cornerback, who was in the last season of a five-year, $35 million deal, after he refused to take a pay cut.
Last season, the veteran cornerback failed to tally an interception for the first time since 2011. In his career, he has 439 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 145 passed defended and 30 interceptions. The market will be tough for a 31-year-old cornerback like Rodgers-Cromartie, who will join Butler, Trumaine Johnson, Bashaud Breeland, E.J. Gaines, Brent Grimes, Morris Claiborne and Prince Amukamara as free agents in the off-season.
