There's a saying around football that the NFL stands for "Not For Long." Players, coaches and general managers come and go every year with the speed and fluidity of a rushing river. If you can't cut it, they'll replace you with someone who can. Even if you are producing, your price tag may land you on the open market sooner rather than later.
That's what it feels like for the New York Giants and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Giants invested heavily into the CB position this offseason, handing out a big money contract to Janoris Jenkins (five years, $62.5 million) and selecting Ohio State's Eli Apple with the No. 10 pick in the draft. Rodgers-Cromartie doesn't need to be Nostradamus to see the writing on the wall.
The likelihood of DRC remaining on New York's roster in 2017 is slim. There's no guaranteed money left on his contract, and the Giants would save $4.5 million in cap space by releasing him next spring, when he'll turn 31. On top of that, Rodgers-Cromartie's cap number is on the rise. He'll carry a charge of $8 million this year, same as Jenkins, and $8.5 million in 2017, when Jenkins' number will rise to $15 million. It's highly doubtful that New York plans on paying both.
If Apple develops quickly, the Giants may think about trading Rodgers-Cromartie. A veteran starting cornerback is a valuable commodity in today's NFL. New York has holes throughout its roster, especially along the offensive line, and may try to fill them by shipping out a player who is not in their long-term plans.
Then again, you can never have too many talented cornerbacks. The Giants finished dead last in the NFL in total defense last year, so shedding contributors may not be the best course of action in the short-term. But if Apple lives up to his lofty draft status, general manager Jerry Reese may want to take a holistic approach.
We'll see how things play out this summer throughout training camp and pre-season. Player trades of note are rare in the NFL, but not non-existent.
