2017 NFL Draft Daily Chicago Bears Target: Memphis K Jake Elliott
We continue our series covering possible Chicago Bears prospects in the 2017 NFL Draft by profiling kicker Jake Elliott.
The 2017 NFL Draft is just around the corner. In a few days we all will know what we’ve wondered for months — who will be the new players coming to the Chicago Bears. Until that time comes, we continue to look at possible targets for the Bears.
Next man up is kicker Jake Elliott from Memphis.
For now, the Bears have their man at the kicker position, Connor Barth. The Bears seem to like Barth as they just resigned him for another year, and if you look back John Fox always gave Barth chances.
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Before coming to the Bears, Fox had Barth playing for him at the Denver Broncos and even with bad production he allowed him to have a roster spot even when the Broncos had another kicker.
Things can change, however, and competition is always good. We never know where kickers go in the draft and Elliott could go anywhere from a Day 3 pick to not even hearing his name at all and becoming a highly sought-after undrafted free agent.
If Elliott gets picked or signed by the Bears he will have to fight for his job, but he has the tools for it. He had awesome production in his college career, breaking school records for field goals made and for attempts made from 50 or more yards. He also became the all-time scorer in Memphis history.
The most amazing fact about those stats? Memphis is the same school that gave the NFL one of the best of the position, All-Pro kicker Stephen Gostkowski. If Elliott turns out to have as good a career as Gostkowski has, he will be amazing and will beat Barth for the roster spot.
Next: Should the Bears draft a receiver early?
In my opinion, Elliott will be the best kicker on the Bears roster from the moment that his selection is made. The Bears’ front office should consider taking him.