The Buffalo Bills are gearing up for a challenging divisional-round game against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday, while also beginning preparations for the 2025 season.
On January 17, the team announced they had signed former Washington Commanders tight end Armani Rogers to a reserve/future contract for the upcoming season. Rogers had a promising 2022 campaign but has been plagued by injuries since then. He will now have the opportunity to compete for a roster spot with the Bills and become another target for quarterback Josh Allen.
Rogers’ ‘Cinderella Story’ with Washington
According to CBS Sports, Rogers had a “Cinderella story” with the Commanders in 2022, earning a spot on the 53-man roster as an undrafted free agent. He caught five passes for 64 yards over 11 games and added 26 rushing yards. However, he tore his Achilles in May 2023 and has not played in an NFL game since, although he spent most of the 2024 season on Atlanta’s practice squad.
The reserve/future contract allows Rogers to participate in the team’s offseason activities and training camp but does not make him eligible for the Bills’ playoff roster.
The Bills received solid contributions from their tight ends this season, with Dalton Kincaid recording 44 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns, Dawson Knox making 22 receptions for 311 yards and one touchdown, and third-string tight end Quintin Morris, a key special teams player, catching five passes for 36 yards and one touchdown.
Offseason Decisions Loom for the Bills
The Bills will also face significant decisions this offseason, with several key offensive players set to become free agents. One of those players is wide receiver Amari Cooper, who joined the Bills in a trade with the Cleveland Browns before the trade deadline.
Ronnie Eastham of SI.com suggested the Bills could re-sign Cooper and integrate him more into the offense after a full offseason with the team.
“His presence on the field helps open up everything else in the passing game, especially for Khalil Shakir, who has 24 receptions in the four games with Cooper, the most in any four-game stretch this season,” Eastham wrote in December. “If the Bills can re-sign him, he’ll have a full offseason with Josh Allen, and this offense could reach new heights in 2025.”
The Bills will also need to make key decisions on defense, particularly in the secondary. Starting safety Damar Hamlin and cornerback Rasul Douglas are both heading into free agency. Despite facing some criticism for his coverage, Eastham emphasized Hamlin’s importance to the team.
“Hamlin is second on the team in tackles with 70, third in passes defensed with five, and tied for the team lead with two interceptions,” Eastham wrote. “While he may not be at the peak of Micah Hyde or Jordan Poyer’s careers, Hamlin and Taylor Rapp form a solid duo, and keeping the secondary intact would be valuable for 2025.”
