Patriots Land Christian Gonzalez’s Former College Teammate in Surprise Signing

The New England Patriots are reportedly signing former New York Giants defensive tackle Casey Rogers, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz on Monday. Rogers, a former college teammate of Patriots star cornerback Christian Gonzalez, will join the team in an effort to shore up their defensive tackle depth.

The Patriots are looking to add more bodies to compete at training camp, and Rogers could make a name for himself as a possible rotational depth option for the team. With Christian Barmore and Milton Williams leading the way on the defensive front, Rogers will have a chance to audition in a preseason game next week.

Rogers most recently played in the USFL for the DC Defenders, starting in 12 games and recording 18 tackles with two sacks. He played college football at Oregon and Nebraska before playing for the New York Giants in his rookie season. After his first stint in New York, he split time between the Giants and Buffalo Bills' practice squads.

The Patriots are taking a calculated risk by signing Rogers, who has only three total games of NFL experience. However, the timing is great for him considering he'll have a full week of practice before auditioning in a preseason game.

Rogers played on the same Oregon defense as Christian Gonzalez in 2022, which could give him an edge in terms of familiarity with the Patriots' system. However, it remains to be seen whether he can make the most of this new opportunity.

The Patriots' defensive front is top-heavy, with Barmore and Williams leading the way. However, they could use a reliable rotational depth option, and Rogers could be just the player to fill that role.

Rogers' signing is a low-key move, but it could have significant implications for the Patriots' defense. With training camp just around the corner, we'll see if Rogers can make good on this new NFL opportunity.

The Patriots will take on the Philadelphia Eagles in a preseason game next week, and Rogers will likely get a chance to audition for the team. We'll be keeping a close eye on his performance and seeing if he can make a name for himself in the Patriots' system.


Source: Yahoo Sports