Undrafted free agents face significant challenges upon joining the professional ranks. They start from the bottom, and very few end up making the 53-man roster. But one draft expert believes the Washington Commanders have unearthed a rough diamond capable of shaking things up considerably.
The Commanders haven't officially confirmed their undrafted free-agent class as yet. Reports are widespread in the media about which prospects were signed once the selection event concluded. Gabe Taylor, brother of the late, great Washington icon Sean Taylor, is getting a tryout during the team's upcoming rookie minicamp.
There isn't much margin for error. Making waves immediately will be the first step. Catching the eye of coaches and accumulating some positive early momentum will stand them in good stead. And who knows, perhaps this will get some established veterans nervously looking over their shoulders at training camp.
Draft analyst believes UDFA Car'lin Vigers could make Commanders' 53-man roster
Some will be cut loose with little fanfare attached. Others will do enough to make the practice squad to continue their development. Ryan Fowler from The Draft Network believes Car'lin Vigers has what it takes to make the squad with a smooth transition.
Vigers is a physically imposing defensive back with some decent college production at Louisiana-Monroe. His tape against the Texas Longhorns when matched up against prolific wide receivers such as Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond was extremely encouraging. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to hear his name called during the draft.
The fact that he was rarely targeted spoke volumes. Vigers doesn't have the top-end speed typically associated with productive NFL cornerbacks. His tackling also needs some refinement, but he's a disciplined player with extensive special-teams experience. That should serve him well in pursuit of making a name for himself.
Finding a role in the cornerback room might be difficult. The Commanders have five locks to make the squad: Marshon Lattimore, Mike Sainristil, Trey Amos, Jonathan Jones, and Noah Igbinoghene. They will probably take another through, but Vigers could find more success by transitioning back to the safety spot.
That's a position group lacking depth. Vigers has the size and aggressive approach that could fit into the rotation well. He's also got a previous background playing safety earlier in his career to further raise intrigue.
It'll be interesting to see what the Commanders have planned for Vigers. They see something in the player, who tested pretty well over the assessment phase. His jumping numbers hinted at his athletic explosiveness, which is never a bad platform from which to build.
Vigers has a shot. What comes next is down to the player.
