Jake Elliott, kicker of the Philadelphia Eagles. /VCG Photo
Jake Elliott, kicker of the Philadelphia Eagles. /VCG Photo
Jake Elliott, kicker of the Philadelphia Eagles, received a great Thanksgiving present on Wednesday – a five-year contract extension, announced the Eagles on Twitter.
"#Eagles have signed K Jake Elliott to a five-year contract extension through 2024.#FlyEaglesFly," tweeted the NFL team.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the deal is worth 21.8 million U.S. dollars with 10.45 million guaranteed. The new contract makes Elliott the third-highest-paid kicker in league history.
"It's awesome, man. This is the place where I've grown the last couple of years and luckily I'm a part of it and I look forward to being a part of it for a really long time. It's a great feeling," said Elliott of the deal, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk.
Jake Elliott #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles kicks a field goal during Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium, February 4, 2018. /VCG Photo
Jake Elliott #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles kicks a field goal during Super Bowl LII against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium, February 4, 2018. /VCG Photo
Elliott was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round in 2017 but soon was waived. The Eagles landed him and it turned out to be the right decision because Elliott grew to become of the league's best kickers during his three years in Philadelphia.
In the Week 3 game against the New York Giants, Elliott impressed the NFL by making a 61-yard (55-meter) game-winning field goal that helped the Eagles claim a victory of 24-21. It was also in that season when he and the team won Super Bowl championship together.
In his three years with the Eagles, Elliott made 66 of 76 field goals. This season, he has been perfect in all 14 free kicks he attempted and made 21 of 23 extra-point goals. Don't be surprised if the 24-year-old appears in Pro Bowl this season.