Kansas City Chiefs: Da’Rick Rogers Can Make a Huge Impact

ByDan Schmelzer|

It is no secret that the receiving corps of the Kansas City Chiefs struggled in 2014. The wide receivers as a whole failed to receive separation from the defense on a consistent basis, forcing quarterback Alex Smith to use other weapons in the offense.

In fact, tight end Travis Kelce led the team in both receptions (67) and receiving yards (862), while sharing the team lead in touchdown receptions (five) with running back Jammal Charles. Kelce and Charles were the most dangerous players in the Chiefs’ passing attack, which should be embarrassing for their wide receivers.

Dec 7, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Chiefs 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

This off season, the Chiefs have done a nice job of re-tooling their corps of receivers. Most notably, the Chiefs cut Dwayne Bowe, and replaced him with Jeremy Maclin. The addition of Maclin finally gives the Chiefs a legitimate number one wide receiver on the roster, and a guy who can create consistent separation from the defense.

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Adding Maclin will help solidify the entire receiving corps for the Chiefs, as he takes pressure off of the other receivers.

Speaking of the other receivers, as of right now, Albert Wilson would probably start for the Chiefs opposite of Maclin. While undersized (5-foot-9, 200 pounds), Wilson has great strength, speed and quickness that allows him to be an interesting target for Smith in the passing game.

Talented rookie Chris Conley also figures to play a role, while veterans Jason Avant, Junior Hemmingway and Frankie Hammond bring nice depth to the position. Simply put, the Chiefs’ receiving corps should be much more productive in 2015. Going from bad to average would be a major step in the right direction for the Chiefs’ receivers, but there is one player who has the talent to make the jump even bigger.

Da’Rick Rogers is a physically gifted receiver who the Chiefs signed on a reserve-future contract late last season. Rogers has a nice combination of size (6-foot-2, 217 pounds), speed, strength and natural ball skills that gives him great upside as an NFL receiver.

He is a former five-star recruit who starred as a sophomore at the University of Tennessee in 2011. That season, Rogers showed huge upside as both a deep threat and physical possession receiver, hauling in 67 receptions for 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns.

Unfortunately, multiple failed drug tests held Rogers back from having a long and successful career at Tennessee. He was suspended and eventually kicked off the team, before landing at Tennessee Tech for the next season.

Rogers had a successful year at Tennessee Tech in 2012, bringing in 61 receptions for 893 yards and 10 touchdowns, including an incredible 18-reception, 303-yard performance early in the season against Southeast Missouri State. Even more importantly, Rogers kept his nose clean off-the-field, passing 10 drug tests while enrolled at Tennessee Tech.

Rogers decided to take his talents to the NFL level after his one season at Tennessee Tech, and he really showed off his impressive skill-set at the NFL scouting combine. He was among the leaders at the WR position in the three-cone drill (6.71 seconds), 20-yard shuttle (4.06 seconds), vertical jump (39.5 inches) and the broad jump (11 feet), while putting up a solid 4.52 second 40-yard dash time.

He showed his obvious NFL skill-set at the combine, but went completely un-drafted because of his past off-field issues. NFL teams obviously felt the risk involved in selecting Rogers was not worth drafting him. He did however, end up signing a free agent contract with the Buffalo Bills.

Rogers did not make the Bills’ roster, but was signed to the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad soon after. Rogers made his NFL regular season debut on December 1st, 2013, and he ended up having a nice impact for the Colts down the stretch that season. Rogers had 14 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns in five games (three starts) for the Colts in the 2013 regular season, and looked like his skills belonged at the NFL level.

Unfortunately, Rogers found himself in trouble once again, as he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence. The Colts decided that Rogers was not worth the headache, and they released him on September 29th of last year. He did not play at all last season, and was not signed by an NFL team until the Chiefs took a chance on him on January 7th, 2015.

First and foremost, in order for the Rogers to make an impact for the Chiefs, he simply must stay out of trouble. With such a checkered past, attention will be put on how he acts both on and off the field, and he will undoubtedly receive plenty of drug tests. Any arrests or failed drug tests, and the Chiefs will likely cut Rogers, no matter how much of an impact he is making on the field.

Rogers certainly comes with plenty of risk, but his upside as an NFL receiver is massive. If he can stay out of trouble, and play his way into a role with the Chiefs this season, I think he is the best option to start at the WR position opposite of Maclin. Having Maclin and Rogers on the outside, with Wilson in the slot, and Kelce at tight end makes for an extremely promising corps of receiving options for Smith.

Rogers has a chance to be a significant difference maker for the Chiefs. If he can keep his nose clean, and reach his obvious potential as an NFL receiver, Rogers could help the Chiefs receiving corps go from laughing stock of the league to very good as a whole.

Next: Finding a Role for Chiefs' De'Anthony Thomas

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