NFL Cuts Tommy Mellott Junior Bergen
August 26, 2025 delivered the same brutal phone call to Tommy Mellott and Junior Bergen. Both Montana natives, both FCS record-setters, both drafted in the final rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft. Neither survived the league’s mandatory cut-down day. The nfl cuts tommy mellott junior bergen story spread through Big Sky country within hours. The news stung, but what happened next for the two players looked nothing alike.
Tommy Mellott: Quarterback Legend to Receiver Project
Mellott left Montana State as one of the most productive dual-threat quarterbacks in FCS history. He won the 2024 Walter Payton Award after throwing for 2,783 yards and 31 touchdowns while rushing for 1,050 yards and 15 scores. His 43 career rushing touchdowns rank second all-time at Montana State. The Las Vegas Raiders grabbed him in the sixth round, 213th overall, and immediately announced he would switch to wide receiver.
The transition asked a quarterback to learn release packages, route stems, and contested catches from scratch. Mellott caught two passes for one yard across three preseason games and returned a kickoff 42 yards. He gave honest effort, but the position change needed more time than a single training camp allows.
Junior Bergen: FCS Return King Drafted Late
Junior Bergen starred across the rivalry line at the University of Montana. He piled up 1,777 receiving yards, 577 rushing yards, and 18 offensive touchdowns in 48 career games. On special teams, he was truly magical. Bergen returned eight punts for touchdowns, tying the FCS all-time record, and averaged 16.71 yards per return. The San Francisco 49ers selected him with the 252nd overall pick, the final selection of the draft, to compete as a return specialist.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Bergen would focus almost entirely on kick and punt returns. At 5-foot-9 and 184 pounds, Bergen lacked the size for a traditional receiver role but brought elite short-area quickness. His 4.22-second shuttle time at Montana’s pro day turned heads.
Why the Raiders Moved on From Mellott
Raiders General Manager John Spytek addressed the move directly. “Ultimately, we made some decisions that didn’t include him, for now,” Spytek said. The team kept other developmental receivers and did not offer Mellott a practice squad spot. A sixth-round pick learning a brand-new position needs rapid growth to survive cut day. Mellott did not get enough runway.
The nfl cuts tommy mellott junior bergen situation highlighted a cold truth about late-round draft capital. Teams invest minimal guaranteed money in sixth- and seventh-rounders. If the initial return looks thin, the plug gets pulled fast.
The 49ers’ Roster Math Pushed Bergen Out
San Francisco carried a crowded receiver room in 2025. Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, and rookie Ricky Pearsall locked up the top spots. Jacob Cowing and Ray-Ray McCloud already handled return duties. Bergen climbed no higher than the seventh receiver on the depth chart. His return production during camp did not force the coaching staff to create a roster exception, so the numbers worked against him.
How NFL Cut Day Works
Every club trims its roster from 90 players to 53 on a single Tuesday in late August. That purge eliminates 444 players leaguewide. Teams can then build a 16-man practice squad the following day. Players with fewer than two accrued seasons qualify for most spots, while up to six veterans can fill the remaining slots. Practice squad members earn a fixed weekly salary of $12,500 for the 2025 season. They practice fully but cannot dress on game day.
Mellott’s Saints Practice Squad Stint
Mellott found a soft landing one week after the Raiders let him go. The New Orleans Saints signed him to their practice squad on September 2, 2025. The fit made sense on paper. The Saints had successfully developed Taysom Hill, another college quarterback turned multi-position weapon. Mellott spent roughly five weeks in New Orleans before the team terminated his contract on October 7. No NFL club has signed him since.
The nfl cuts tommy mellott junior bergen timeline showed a clear fork in the road at this point. One player clung to the league. The other fell off the radar.
Bergen’s Futures Contract Keeps Him in San Francisco
Bergen stayed put. The 49ers added him to their practice squad on August 27, one day after waiving him. He spent the entire 2025 season attending meetings, running scout-team reps, and learning Shanahan’s system from the ground up. On January 20, 2026, San Francisco rewarded that patience with a reserve/futures contract. The deal locks Bergen onto the 90-man offseason roster for 2026. He will participate in OTAs, minicamp, and training camp with a base salary of $885,000.
College Stats at a Glance
Tommy Mellott — Tommy Mellott
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 5,810 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 53 |
| Rushing Yards | 3,517 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 43 |
2024 Season Stats
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Passing Yards | 2,783 |
| Passing Touchdowns | 31 |
| Interceptions | 2 |
| Rushing Yards | 1,050 |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 15 |
Junior Bergen — Junior Bergen
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Receiving Yards | 1,777 |
| Rushing Yards | 577 |
| Punt Return Touchdowns | 8 (ties FCS record) |
| Kick Return Touchdowns | 1 |
| Total Return Yards | 2,114 |
| Yards Per Punt Return | 16.71 |
What These Cuts Mean for FCS Prospects
The nfl cuts tommy mellott junior bergen story reflects a persistent hurdle. About 18 FCS players get drafted each year. Most land in the same late-round territory Mellott and Bergen occupied. Making a 53-man roster from that slot demands immediate special teams value or rare positional traits. Hall of Fame examples like Cooper Kupp exist, but the vast majority wash out within two seasons. FCS standouts face shorter leashes and quicker judgments than Power Five prospects.
Where Both Players Stand in May 2026
Bergen holds a clear advantage. The futures contract gives him a full offseason to compete for San Francisco’s return job. The 49ers have not locked in a long-term answer at punt returner. If Bergen shines during camp, his path to the active roster opens wide.
Mellott, now 25, must rebuild his career from outside the NFL. The Canadian Football League makes logical sense. The wider field and three-down format reward mobile quarterbacks. A spring league like the UFL could give him live reps under center. Mellott’s athletic gifts are real. His college tape is excellent. He needs an organization willing to invest a full year in his development, something neither the Raiders nor Saints ultimately did.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Raiders cut Tommy Mellott so quickly?
The position switch from quarterback to wide receiver demanded more time than one training camp allowed. When the team saw slower-than-needed progress, they prioritized other developmental players.
What is a reserve/futures contract?
A non-guaranteed, one-year deal signed after the regular season. It ties a player to the team for the upcoming league year and guarantees access to all offseason workouts.
*Did Junior Bergen play any regular-season snaps in 2025?*
No. He spent the entire season on the 49ers’ practice squad and never dressed for a game.
Can Tommy Mellott still return to the NFL?
Yes. He remains a free agent. A tryout during 2026 training camp or a strong showing in a spring league could earn him another contract.
How many FCS players make NFL rosters annually?
Roughly 15 to 20 drafted FCS players enter the league each year. About half eventually land on active rosters or practice squads.
Where can I watch both players in 2026?
Bergen will be at 49ers OTAs and training camp starting in late July. Mellott’s next opportunity likely comes in the CFL, UFL, or via an NFL tryout.
A Tale of Two Futures
The nfl cuts tommy mellott junior bergen headline on August 26, 2025 felt like the end for both players. It was not. Junior Bergen turned his setback into a futures contract and a genuine chance to win a return job in San Francisco. Tommy Mellott is still searching for his next football home.
The NFL remains the hardest roster to crack in professional sports. Getting drafted is an achievement. Surviving cut day takes more than draft status. It takes the right fit, the right position, and the right timing. One former Montana star found that fit. The other is still waiting for his pitch.
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