Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.
Today, we talk about the most important specialist on the team in kicker Evan McPherson. The 25-year old is already a legend in the Queen City for his part in the team’s run to Super Bowl LVI, and he’s set to be rewarded for it in the near future.
Evan McPherson
- Age: 25
- Year: 4th
- Position: Kicker
- College: Florida
- Previous Teams: None
- Jersey Number: 2
McPherson drafted by the Bengals with the 149th overall pick in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played three years in college at Florida as he declared early for the draft. Before leaving, his freshman and sophomore years both featured him going 17-19 in each season, giving him an 89.5% conversion rate entering his junior year in 2020. He was also 10-12 from 40 yards or longer. His field goal percentage dropped as a senior when he went 17-22, but four of his makes were beyond 50 yards which became a Florida single-season record. He left Gainesville as the SEC’s all-time leader in FG percentage at 85% for kickers with at least 50 attempts.
Being accurate from deep is why the Bengals made him the first kicker drafted in 2021, and their return on investment was quickly realized. McPherson not only brought a strong leg as he led the NFL in 50-yard field goals with nine, he had the clutch gene as well. He made three game-winning kicks as rookie, including two in his first four games. His third game-winning kick in the regular season clinched the Bengals their first AFC North title in six years, which set McPherson up for a generational playoff run.
McPherson went a perfect 14-14 in four playoff games and converted all six of his PATs as well. It’s the most field goals any kicker has made without missing in NFL postseason history, and it also tied Adam Vinatieri’s 2006 record for the most total postseason field goals made. He made two more game-winning kicks to send the Bengals to both the AFC Championship game and the Super Bowl.
The bar was set astronomically high by McPherson following 2021, so it’s no surprise he hasn’t quite lived up to that year since then. He’s missed exactly five field goals in all three of his seasons played, including his outstanding rookie year, but his struggles have been inconsistent. He went 5-5 from beyond 50 yards and 9-13 from 40-49 yards in 2022. Then things flipped as he went 7-12 from beyond 50 and 8-8 from 40-49 range in 2023.
If the Bengals could’ve extended McPherson following his rookie campaign, they probably would’ve. Instead, they’ve had to work through his growth since then and continue to develop him. Now he’s eligible for an extension, and despite the inconsistencies, there should be no doubt about his future in Cincinnati.
Contract details
McPherson is in the final year of his four-year, $3,823,716 rookie contract. He will earn a base salary of $1,055,000 for the 2024 season.
When adding on the $343,716 signing bonus that’s been prorated throughout the entirety of his deal, Hill’s cap hit for the season will be $1,140,929.
Roster chances
Like long snapper Cal Adomitis, McPherson is the only specialist at his position on the team. He’s the kicker for this year, and ideally the next four as an extension with his name on it should be signed within the next month.
Chances of making the roster: 100%
Previous player breakdowns
- Kwamie Lassiter II
- Domenique Davis
- Nate Gilliam
- Shaka Heyward
- Jaxson Kirkland
- Devin Cochran
- Justin Blazek
- Tre Mosley
- Cam Grandy
- PJ Jules
- Eric Miller
- Michael Dowell
- Lance Robinson
- Noah Cain
- Elijah Collins
- Rocky Lombardi
- Cole Burgess
- Aaron Casey
- Maema Njongmeta
- Austin McNamara
- Devonnsha Maxwell
- Matt Lee
- Daijahn Anthony
- Cedric Johnson
- Tanner McLachlan
- Josh Newton
- Travis Bell
- Allan George
- Shedrick Jackson
- Jeff Gunter
- Kendric Pryor
- Jake Browning
- DJ Ivey
- Brad Robbins
- Andrei Iosivas
- Devin Harper
- Logan Woodside
- Cal Adomitis
- Chase Brown
- Erick All
- McKinnley Jackson
- Jay Tufele
- Jermaine Burton
- Tycen Anderson
- Charlie Jones
- Chris Evans
- Trey Hill
- Joe Bachie
