Tough call on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Jul 21, 2011, 2:27 PM | Updated: 3:27 pm
The player most mentioned in relation to a Kevin Kolb trade is Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie.
The key to the decision is for coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves to figure out who is the real DRC (insert corny Eminem joke here).
You throw 2008 out the window. A rookie cornerback is going to have his up and downs through the course of the season.
In 2009 according to ProFootballFocus.com DRC rated as the 4th best CB in the entire NFL with an 18 rating. The only three cornerbacks ahead of him were Charles Woodson, Darrelle Revis and Leon Hall.
In 2010 according to ProFootballFocus.com DRC rated as the 100th worst corner in the NFL with a -14.7 rating. Terrible corners like Kareem Jackson from Houston, Kyle Arrington from New England and Jacob Lacey from Indianapolis all rated better than DRC.
This is the toughest part about being a coach or general manager, you are judged by the ability to make projections going forward. Examining what has happened in the past is useful, but it is more important to be able to figure out what a player is going to do that decides whether you keep or lose your job.
If Whisenhunt and Graves believe the real DRC is the 2009 version, he is way too valuable to give up for Kolb. Top flight cover corners are difficult to find and should not be traded, especially for an unknown commodity like Kolb.
If Whisenhunt and Graves believe the real DRC is the 2010 version they need to ship him out of town while teams still believe he has “upside.” DRC is still living off his reputation from 2009 and has respect around the NFL. If he has another year like 2010 his trade value and reputation will be gone. To get Kolb for a player you believe is a #2 or #3 CB is a steal.
Whichever way the Cardinals’ brain trust decides to go they have to be right.
What they do at the quarterback position this summer is a franchise altering move.
If Whisenhunt and Graves screw up they might not be around to make the next big decision for the Cardinals.
