The best Commanders undrafted free agent signing that nobody is talking about

When Washington Commanders general manager Adam Peters selected Trey Amos late in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft, he won plaudits from most analysts. And the cornerback acquisitions didn't stop there.

The Commanders needed a true perimeter corner to pair with Marshon Lattimore. Amos fits the bill nicely. He should be able to step into a key role early on, allowing emerging star Mike Sainristil to move to a more natural slot position.

Peters was far from done adding to his pool of perimeter corners. Once the draft was over, he signed several more undrafted free-agent prospects, including Florida State’s Fentrell Cypress II and Jackson State’s corner/safety hybrid Robert McDaniel.

Then there is Car’Lin Vigers, from Louisiana-Monroe. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound corner from Eunice, Louisiana, could emerge as a true diamond in the rough.

Car'Lin Vigers could be a player to watch for the Commanders this summer

Washington has had some luck in recent years with similarly unheralded corners. Quinton Dunbar and Danny Johnson supplied solid depth, while Deshazor Everett was a versatile backup for many seasons before his tragic reckless driving incident put an end to his career.

Vigers served as a lockdown for the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in 2024, starting all 12 games. Before that, he played in 23 other contests as an occasional starter. The length and fluid movement that made him a standout basketball player in high school were often on display.

Though he generally dropped into coverage, Vigers could also attack the backfield. He blocked a punt in 2023 and recorded a handful of sacks and tackles for loss. In coverage, he was comfortable in zone or playing press man.

Though Vigers does not boast elite athleticism, he is solid across the board. Considering his frame, he projects to have a much higher upside as he improves his technique.

Early in 2024, he recorded his first pick-six, snuffing out a comeback attempt by Alabama-Birmingham. Two weeks later, in a blowout loss against Texas, Vigers more than held his own against the high-powered Longhorn receivers.

That was a game in which new Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue went wild. But the Louisiana-Monroe secondary did a pretty good job against the likes of Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond.

Watching that game, it becomes clear that Texas had no intention of challenging Vigers. Arch Manning didn’t have to throw often, but when he did, it was almost always against the rest of the Warhawks’ secondary.

Golden and Bond only had three catches on the day, and Vigers only surrendered one soft corner route against Bond. When he was on Golden, he looked very comfortable. Manning rarely even looked in his direction.

Whether he can perform consistently at the next level remains a major question. Though Vigers can aggressively attack against the run, he needs more discipline. He missed a clean shot on Blue in the backfield because he tried to go high and throw the smaller powerhouse to the ground. The backfield weapon shook him off rather easily.

The Commanders were impressed enough with Vigers to schedule one of their top 30 visits with him. He was one of just five corners that they included. The other four were all drafted in the first four rounds, with two going in the first round. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr. think highly of the prospect. That much is obvious.

Vigers needs work, especially when it comes to tackling. But he has physical tools and has shown a real feel for a variety of coverage schemes that makes him a very intriguing prospect.

Whitt is a master at taking rangy defensive backs and helping them play up to their ceilings. With that in mind, Vigers is well worth watching this summer.

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