New York Giants: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie should be traded

The New York Giants should look to move cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie while the team still has the option to get something for him.

Following a bye week that allowed all involved with the New York Giants to forget, for even a few days, the club is the biggest disappointment in the NFL this season, the time has come for general manager Jerry Reese, head coach Ben McAdoo and other powerful individuals within the organization to realize this is a lost campaign. New York isn’t making the playoffs. The club seems destined to finish near the basement of the standings. It’s bad times for Big Blue.

Those spit-balling about New York’s future who would suggest the Giants need to attempt to deal quarterback Eli Manning either forget or ignore the two-time Super Bowl MVP has a no-trade clause and zero desire to leave the franchise before he no longer has a say in the matter. The Giants are not getting anything for Manning’s services this fall, and don’t let anybody convince you otherwise.

The same cannot be said about cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The contract that ties the 31-year old to the Giants carries a dead cap value of only $2 million for the 2018 season, according to Spotrac, meaning New York or any other team could, theoretically, move on from him next winter without suffering much of a financial loss. The Giants trading Rodgers-Cromartie is not only possible; it’s the reasonable move for the team to make as it pertains to his status.

McAdoo suspended Rodgers-Cromartie for a week earlier this month following a “miscommunication,” “misunderstanding” or however else one could say a player annoyed his coach so much that he earned himself a week away from the rest of the roster. While McAdoo and teammates welcomed Rodgers-Cromartie back following his punishment, nobody should pretend the situation is settled or normal.

Whether or not you believe Rodgers-Cromartie is the player of old these days is a matter of opinion, but the fact is he could start for a handful of clubs that are pursuing division titles and maybe more over the next several months. This isn’t his first rodeo. It’s clear he’s not in love with being a member of the Giants. Both entities moving on could be what’s best for player and club.

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The New England Patriots have a history of taking unhappy talents and getting the most out of them, and the reigning Super Bowl champions need help in the secondary. Fans may not enjoy reading that the Giants did a favor for the team’s February rivals, but it’s possible the Pats would make the best possible offer considering future Hall of Famer Tom Brady is in the twilight of his career.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers are two teams that could use assistance in attempting to dethrone the Patriots come January. The Philadelphia Eagles also come to mind regarding a potential transaction, but it’s unlikely, if not unfathomable, the Giants would be willing to work a trade with a division opponent even if that deal wouldn’t hurt the team in the long-term. In fact, the Giants orchestrating a trade with any NFC team looks doubtful for multiple understandable reasons.

It should be made clear the Giants will receive little compensation for Rodgers-Cromartie. He’s on his last legs as a starting defensive back, and it’s no secret he hasn’t been on the best of terms with his current employer. General managers and head coaches around the league will be looking to land Rodgers-Cromartie on the cheap, to the point that the Giants acquiring even a fourth-round pick for him may be as good as it gets.

Trading him is still worth it. Literally any future draft pick is worth more to the Giants than what Rodgers-Cromartie can provide for a 1-6 team going through the motions between now and a Week 17 game that can’t come soon enough. Any additional asset the Giants can obtain before Tuesday’s trade deadline is a positive for a front office and ownership tasked with finding Manning’s replacement.

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Nobody knows what rookie Davis Webb will or won’t be, but that he is currently third on the depth chart says plenty about what McAdoo and others think of him heading into November. The Giants could be in a position to draft the top QB in next year’s class even if they don’t finish this season with the league’s worst record by acquiring enough picks to move up. Yes, trading players such as Rodgers-Cromartie would show the Giants are “tanking” and punting on 2017.

It’s all that’s left for what quickly became a miserable year.

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