The Browns are starting over with Cade York, their fourth-round pick in 2022 out of LSU, after cutting him before last season.
On Saturday, they re-signed York, 23, to a futures contract that pays the veteran minimum based on years of service. In York’s case, he is a second-year pro, so it is worth $940,000. The contract ensures him for next season if the Browns opt to keep him on the roster.
Depending on how things go, he may return to the practice squad.
The Browns also have kicker Dustin Hopkins, who was acquired last August in a deal with the Chargers for a 2025 seventh-round pick and is still under contract in 2024 for $2.875 million plus a $3.54 million cap charge.
The Browns disliked parting ways with York last summer because of his brilliance, but they understood they couldn’t rely on him in such a crucial season.
Hopkins, 33, outperformed expectations for the Browns by converting 33 of 36 field goals, including four game-winners. His 31 field goals were the most by a Brown in a single season, and his eight 50-plus kicks set a club record. He also set an NFL record by making at least one 50-yard field goal in five consecutive games, going 8 for 8 from that distance after only 15 for 30 in his previous nine years.
After the Browns cut York, they planned to re-sign him to the practice squad, which he wanted to do, but he signed with the Titans three days later. The Giants signed him off the Titans’ practice squad on November 3, but he was waived on November 22 and re-signed to the practice squad two days later. After suffering a quad injury during practice, he was placed on injured reserve on December 23 and became a free agent at the end of the season.
York’s final straw came in the preseason finale against the Chiefs, when his potential game-winning field goal from 43 yards was blocked with 54 seconds left in a 33-32 loss. The kick was blocked because it was low and easy for defensive tackle Phil Hoskins to get his hands on.
York missed to nail the possible game-winner for the second straight week, indicating that he may not be prepared for the crucial stretch of three AFC North games in the first four weeks. As it was, he only made 24 of his 32 attempts previous season, accounting for 75%.
He also missed two possible game-winning attempts at the end of the third preseason game against the Eagles on August 17. Just after the two-minute warning, York pushed a 47-yarder wide right, but the Eagles were called for unlawful formation, prompting a mulligan. He then overcorrected, sending the 41-yarder wide left.In the preseason, York made only 4 of 8 field goals and 8 of 8 extra points. He also had one failed field goal and one missed extra point canceled by penalties, making his situation even more uncertain.
“Cade is very talented, and you’re right, we’ve seen it in practice,” Stefanski said after the Chiefs game. “I’ve seen that in games before. He wants to come through for the squad. I know he was frustrated in the preseason, but as a young player, he will continue to work. That’s exactly what it is.
The Browns were hesitant to give up on York too quickly, given what happened to Daniel Carlson in Minnesota while Stefanski was there. Carlson, their fifth-round pick in 2018, went 1-4 in his first two games and was cut by coach Mike Zimmer. He was signed by the Raiders and went 16 for 17 that season, setting a club record of 94% conversion rate. He went on to become one of the NFL’s top kickers, earning first-team All-Pro honors following the 2022 season.
York stated after the Eagles game that he didn’t lack confidence. If anything, the Browns thought he was a perfectionist who overanalyzed everything.
“Confidence is never going to be an issue for me,” York explained. “I bounced back every week, but I was certainly making progress. Again, attempting to take off at the appropriate time of year. I don’t think the preseason has been an accurate reflection of how I’ve been kicking thus far. In training camp, it only means so much, but I believe I missed one kick out of 40 or 45. Still hitting the ball beautifully. I’ve had a couple of right misses and now I just need to draw it back down the middle and keep going.”
The Browns were reminded early on the importance of having a solid kicker when 49ers rookie Jake Moody, their third-round pick, missed two field goals in a 19-17 defeat to the Browns, including the probable game-winning 41-yarder.
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