4:55pm: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears that $14MM of DRC’s deal will be guaranteed, including a $10MM signing bonus (Twitter link). The signing is now official, adds Vacchiano (via Twitter).
4:20pm: Schefter (via Twitter) pegs the value of the deal at $39MM, with $15MM in guaranteed money. Unless Vacchiano’s figure is off, perhaps $39MM is the max value of the contract after incentives.
3:56pm: The Giants have agreed to sign Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to a five-year contract, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News (via Twitter), the deal is worth $35MM.
Rodgers-Cromartie, who turns 28 next month, represents the latest addition to a secondary that has been significantly retooled in the last week, with the Giants also adding cornerback Walter Thurmond and safety Quintin Demps. After signing a one-year deal with the Broncos last year, DRC enjoyed a very good season in Denver, grabbing three interceptions and breaking up 19 passes while ranking fifth overall among 110 qualified cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics (subscription required).
While Rodgers-Cromartie seemed to be flirting with the idea of retirement based on comments he made prior to the Super Bowl, he was always a lock to draw significant interest in free agency. The Broncos reportedly made DRC a six-year, $54MM offer before landing Aqib Talib, though that offer didn’t include a significant amount of guaranteed money. The Jets also pursued the veteran cornerback, with Rodgers-Cromartie’s decision essentially coming down to the two New York franchises, though the Browns were also believed to be in the hunt.
With the exception of Alex Mack, who was designated as the Browns’ transition player and therefore isn’t unrestricted, Rodgers-Cromartie was the last of my top 25 free agents to come off the board. Comparing his new annual salary to other corners on that list, DRC was closer to Alterraun Verner territory than to the big deals signed by Talib, Vontae Davis, and Sam Shields. However, the guarantee is more important than the per-year amount, so we’ll have to wait to see exactly how DRC’s five-year breaks down financially.
With Rodgers-Cromartie off the board, the free agent class of cornerbacks has thinned out considerably. Recently released players like Antonio Cromartie, Carlos Rogers, Champ Bailey, and Dimitri Patterson are among the more notable names still on the market.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.