ORLANDO -- Despite a strong stable of cornerbacks, the Giants pecking order at that position seems clear. It's the newly signed Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and then everybody else.

Rodgers-Cromartie, 27, signed a five-year, $35 million deal with the Giants as a free agent after a strong season in Denver. This followed a pair of wildly inconsistent seasons with the Eagles.

The Giants don't appear to have any reservations. They plan to use him as a shutdown, No. 1 cornerback even with the established Prince Amukamara and fellow free-agent signing Walter Thurmond on the roster.

When asked how exactly DRC would be employed within defensive coordinator Perry Fewell's defensive system, head coach Tom Coughlin didn't hesitate.

"Are you the best receiver of their team? [He's] following you then," Coughlin said Wednesday at the NFL Meetings.

Coughlin and the Giants targeted that type of player right from the start of free agency. They checked in on all the top cornerbacks, before landing Rodgers-Cromartie when the options were slimming. It's clear what drew them to talented cornerback.

"He's physical enough. When you watch him closely, he doesn't shy away," Coughlin said. "He's got great big long arms, he's tall, he's fast, he can match up."

We'll find out if he can shut down the league's elite wide receivers soon enough. Aside from two division games against Dez Bryant (Cowboys) and possibly DeSean Jackson (Eagles), the Giants will also face Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals), Andre Johnson (Texans), Julio Jones (Falcons) and Calvin Johnson (Lions) in 2014. They will provide a stiff test to a player some around the league aren't completely sold on because of reasons that have little to do with his physical skills.

Rodgers-Cromartie is known to drift at times. Broncos coach John Fox thought it was beneficial for him to spend time with an established and respected player like Champ Bailey last year. Still, DRC doesn't come without risk.

"It's a gamble," said former NFL personnel executive and current ESPN analyst Louis Riddick, who spent time with Rodgers-Cromartie in Philadelphia. "But Antrel Rolle obviously played a big role in making those guys feel comfortable that he can keep DRC focused. With a $10 milllion [signing bonus], that is a big investment."

Coughlin, though, didn't hesitate to give his approval after having the chance to meet Rodgers-Cromartie during his visit. He saw a player well aware of his reputation as a drifter who was on his fourth team in five years, and wanted to prove it incorrect. BEGIN SOCIAL BOX

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"He was looking for it. To be honest, he was looking for a place to stick his roots and become a guy who represents a team, stayed there and worked his way through things rather than be a guy who was one year here, one year there," Coughlin said. "He responded to that. He jumped on that. He wanted to be a guy who associated with a team, be recognized."

No doubt, the Giants will give him that opportunity, especially being matched against some of league's best receivers on a weekly basis.