Free Agent File: CB
Carlos Rogers, Washington Redskins
Drafted: 2005, 1st Round
Age: 29 (30 in July)

Rogers has been a decent cover corner in his NFL career, which of course is enough to get him paid nicely. As with every cornerback we’re going to talk about in this series, he’d instantly be the best corner on the Texans’ roster.

Redskins fans seem split on Rogers, but I think it’s a case of them not knowing how good they have it. Well, perhaps more accurately – when it comes to defensive backs, the Texans have it SO bad that Rogers seems like a Hall of Famer in waiting. Rogers’ main liability is that his hands are beyond awful. He has had so many dropped interceptions, that the fans think he’s cost them multiple games in his five years there. It’s tough to gage the truth behind a Redskin fan’s complaints, because I’m here to tell you – those people are insane. I spent about seven months in northern Virginia last year, right in the middle of Redskin country – and if you think Houston sports radio is intolerable when the Texans lose, you haven’t heard ANYTHING. I digress.

Yes, Rogers has terrible hands, but he’s not a wide receiver. In Houston, we will take a guy who can actually stay close enough to a receiver to be able to put a hand on the ball. Rogers isn’t long for Washington, and he clearly is looking to get paid. Check out this quote when pressed about his inability to catch the ball and lack of interceptions:

“I look at Dunta Robinson. He’s probably been in the league a year longer than me. I probably got more interceptions than him, or we’re tied. Atlanta just paid him as one of their top corners.” -Carlos Rogers

Oh, good. So he wants Dunta money. I’m pretty comfortable in saying that he’s a better corner than Dunta. (This would be a good time for BigFatDrunk to swoop in and provide Pro Football Focus stats on Rogers. While you’re at it, leave your username and password for your PFF account.)

Rogers has had his share of injury issues. He’s played in 78 of a total 96 games since his rookie year, starting in 68 of those games. He tore his ACL and MCL in 2007, missing nine games after going on injured reserve. After playing in all 16 games in 2008 and 2009, Rogers had an injury-wrecked 2010. In his contract year he played in 12 games, missing time due to calf and nagging injuries to both hamstrings.

My thoughts on adding Rogers
Well, yes. I mean, he’d be an instant upgrade, he should still have some good football left in him, and he’s another defensive back who has played well without a great pass rush or particularly good safety play (at least since Sean Taylor died in 2007). There are obviously too many uncertainties with this defense going in to 2011 to count on an improved pass rush, but even in my most cynical moments I cannot imagine our safety play being worse than it was in 2010.

Rogers is probably going to want more than the Texans are willing to pay for him, especially considering his recent injury issues. But if he could be had for a decent price, I’d have to consider him if better options were off the table.