The San Francisco 49ers have been fairly quiet in free agency, but one of their most intriguing moves came prior to the start of the signing period. The 49ers signed wide receiver Eric Rogers away from the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.
Rogers signed a 2-year deal worth up to $1.14 million, with a $125,000 signing bonus, and $100,000 of his first year salary fully guaranteed. He is not guaranteed a roster spot, but given the 49ers questionable depth at the position, he stands a good chance of making the roster.
It also helps that Chip Kelly is a fan. Kelly spoke with Rogers when he tried out with the Eagles, and Rogers was reportedly his first call after getting the 49ers job. We've heard some of this before, but on Wednesday, MMQB writer Robert Klemko put together a great feature on Rogers, going into this along with a great back story.
Some things we learned from this must-read article:
- His $125,000 signing bonus and $100,000 first year guarantee are the most for a CFL player since Cameron Wake.
- He worked in the dining hall in college while playing football
- He worked for UPS before getting his first opportunity in the Arena Football League
- He went to college to become a police officer
- He was a Division III All-American
- During his senior season, he "clean[ed] the game uniforms in the industrial washers in the football building on Sunday mornings for $40 a week."
- Assistant director of pro personnel Quentus Cumby brought Rogers to Trent Baalke's attention last fall, early in the 2015 season
I can't recommend Klemko's article enough. It's easy to get excited about Rogers. He's got great size, and he was insanely productive in the CFL last year. He might not pan out, but I'm excited to see what he can do.