Big Blue’s DRC moving to safety

INDIANAPOLIS — After the dismal 2017 season ended for the Giants, there were no guarantees Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie would return to complete the final year on his contract. It seemed the only way he would come back was if he agreed to a salary reduction, a move from cornerback to safety, or both.

For now, it appears RodgersCromartie will be back, at a new position, as the new Giants coaching staff is moving him to safety, according to reports, a move that makes complete sense given his age and skill set.

“Put me anywhere as long as I get on that field a little bit, I don’t mind,’’ Rodgers-Cromartie said the day after the season ended. “Free safety, strong safety, linebacker, it don’t matter, just trying to be out there.’’

A 10-year NFL veteran, RodgersCromartie, 31, played in 15 games this past season. The only game he missed was in Denver as he was suspended after he stormed off the field during a loss to the Chargers, then walked out of the team facility after then-coach Ben McAdoo informed him he would not be playing the following week. He is in the final year of a fiveyear, $35 million contract and is on the books for a salary of $6.48 million with a salary cap hit of $8.5 million. If the Giants cut him, they save $5.1 on the cap. They still could approach him about a cut in pay.

Although Rodgers-Cromartie at times infuriated previous coaching regimes by asking out of games, he has been reliable, playing in 61 of a possible 64 games since coming to the Giants.

Landon Collins is established as the strong safety, but Darian Thompson struggled in 2017 at free safety, and that is where Rodgers-Cromartie will compete for a starting spot.