Building cornerback depth is a never-ending process for NFL teams. That's how, a year ago, Javien Elliott went from a late tryout to an early summer signing to a spot on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad and, eventually, to a key role on defense.
Elliott was the Buccaneers' starting nickel back for the last quarter of the 2016 season, a remarkable achievement for a player who walked on at Florida State, didn't even play until his senior year and was still unsigned weeks after going undrafted. He got his chance through a combination of injuries, a teammate's suspension and his own fine work on the practice field.