Can Armani Rogers become a future star for the Commanders?

The Washington Commanders are sporting a 1-0 record as they prepare for the next game.  One player looks to build on his first game in a team uniform and he could be destined for great things.

It’s nice to spend a full week talking about a Washington Commanders undefeated record, even if it is just one game.  The victory over Jacksonville featured several new contributors who were able to have a solid impact on Sunday.  Jahan Dotson, Darrick Forrest (second year, but first-time starter with many snap counts), Trai Turner, Carson Wentz, Curtis Samuel (missed most of last season with injuries), Andrew Norwell, and Armani Rogers.

Armani Rogers?  The undrafted free agent?  The college quarterback?  A tight end now?  Yes, THAT Armani Rogers.  He was a quarterback at UNLV and transferred to Ohio University to play as a graduate student quarterback for two years (additional COVID year granted) and took some snaps at tight end.  To be honest, no NFL scouts considered him to be a pro quarterback candidate or any kind of prospect at the next level, but he did flash athletic potential.

The Commanders scout Armani Rogers following position change

Shortly after his final year at Ohio, Rogers began to train for the NFL and would try to learn the tight end position.  He received no invitation to the Senior Bowl.  Too, he did not hear from the Tropical Bowl, the College Gridiron Showcase, the Hula Bowl, or several other college all-star games.  Only the East-West Shrine Bowl gave Rogers an opportunity and while he played in the game, it was less than inspiring.

"Blocking was a mixed bag as well. He was able to complete his task and engage but was not able to take the defender away from the play. Wherever one should expect the transition from quarterback to tight end, Rogers was fine. For the rest of his college career, he was specifically asked not to engage defenders. It should come as no surprise that there isn’t a polished part of their game right now."

Ouch!  It seemed like it was the end of the line for Rogers.  However, one NFL team was interested and that is all it took to make one final impression.  That team was the Washington Commanders and Rogers was one of a handful of UDFAs signed in late April following the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Commanders find a future star in Armani Rogers

Throughout OTAs, rookie camp, mini-camp, training camp, and the preseason, Rogers was silencing the skeptics and quickly transitioned from the longest of long shots to a legitimate roster of 53 candidate.  Following the preseason, Rogers was indeed a Washington Commander and the skeptics were turning into believers – including yours truly.

The Commanders not only believed in Rogers, but he started the first game last Sunday.  He was targeted only once, but it was a 23-yard catch and run.  Impressive.  With all the weapons that Washington used last Sunday, Rogers could take a backseat with just four snap counts in all. It’s a nice luxury to have multiple offensive weapons.  Take a look at the buzz he is creating now.  Talk about finding a hidden gem!  It’s just one play, but Rogers has been trusted by the coaches to simply do his job and is off to a great start.

At this time last year, Armani Rogers was a college quarterback and there were no expectations of a career in the NFL.  One year later, the potential is obvious.  Rogers has a legitimate chance to be a star at tight end for the Commanders.  It will be fun to watch his development and be a witness to this rising stardom.  See you as we go along.