After seeing his team blown out in Super Bowl XLVIII, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie decided against retiring and hit free agency looking to score a big contract. The 27-year-old found it on Monday, signing with the New York Giants.

The Giants and New York Jets rivalry transferred into free agency as the two teams battled for Rodgers-Cromartie’s services. But in the end he decided to sign with the Giants, agreeing to a five-year deal worth $35 million, but could escalate to $39 million and includes $15 million guaranteed.

The deal comes just a few days after the Giants signed cornerback Walter Thurmond to a one-year deal. While the Giants’ secondary ranked 10th in the NFL against the pass last season allowing just 223 yards per game, they now have an impressive trio with Thurmond, Rodgers-Cromartie and Prince Amukamara.

For Rodgers-Cromartie, the deal puts him in the upper-echelon at his position in terms of salary, a great step for him considering how the early portion of his career played out. Rodgers-Cromartie was a key piece sent to the Philadelphia Eagles in the Kevin Kolb trade in 2011, after the Arizona Cardinals drafted him 16th overall in 2008.

After two disappointing seasons with the Eagles, Rodgers-Cromartie entered free agency last offseason looking for a new opportunity and he found it with the Denver Broncos on a one-year deal. He showed plenty of ability to be a shutdown corner, serving as the Broncos’ top corner and covering number one wide receivers.

He was a big enough piece of the Broncos’ Super Bowl trip that they offered him a multi-year deal early in free agency, before ultimately signing Aqib Talib. The Giants took advantage and wound up getting a great deal and keeping him from Rex Ryan.

New York has done an outstanding job building their secondary and have been very active in free agency overall. This is a front office that realizes they can’t have another disappointing season if they all want to keep their jobs.