Raiders sign CB Rodgers-Cromartie, waive S Melifonwu

The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and waived safety Obi Melifonwu, the team announced Thursday. Rodgers-Cromartie, who worked out for the Raiders on Wednesday, also received interest from the Los Angeles Chargers and Seattle Seahawks. The 32-year-old joins a secondary that includes offseason acquisition Rashaan Melvin, Leon Hall, Daryl Worley, Shareece Wright, Rick Nelson and Gareon Conley, who missed the majority of his rookie season with a hip strain. Melifonwu, a second-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, has been sidelined since early this month and was waived with an injury designation. Rodgers-Cromartie was released by the New York Giants in March after spending four seasons with the club. The two-time Pro Bowl selection started five of the 15 games in which he played last season and failed to record an interception for the second time in his career. The one contest Rodgers-Cromartie missed was due to a suspension stemming from a violation of team rules. Per ESPN, Rodgers-Cromartie nearly left the stadium during an October loss to the Chargers, and he later walked out of a defensive meeting at the team facility. Listed at 6-foot-2 and 203 pounds, Rodgers-Cromartie had 48 tackles last season with the Giants. He has 30 interceptions -- including six for touchdowns -- in 10 seasons with the Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos and Giants since being selected with the 16th overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft by Arizona. Melifonwu was dealing with a lower-body injury and reportedly saw a specialist amid concerns that the issue was related to the hip surgery that ended his rookie season. The 6-4, 225-pound Melifonwu has been dogged by injuries during his brief NFL tenure. The former University of Connecticut standout began last season on injured reserve because of a knee injury that required surgery in August 2017. After returning to play in five games, Melinonwu finished the seasons on injured reserve because of a hip injury that required surgery in December.