When the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Evan McPherson in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft, it brought back memories of Jake Elliott being drafted in the same round four years earlier. Elliott was infamously cut before his rookie season began; a decision that ultimately led to the team investing another early Day 3 selection on a kicker a few years later.
As evidenced from his release in August of that year, Elliott was never assured he’d win the job over veteran competitor Randy Bullock. McPherson was in the same boat when pinned against Austin Siebert last offseason.