Browns’ trade for Dustin Hopkins might not end this kicker saga
You must have an active subscription to read this story.
Click Here to subscribe Now!
Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Takeaways from early Browns roster moves …
1. The Browns had to make a change at kicker and Dustin Hopkins is an improvement over Cade York – when healthy. But Hopkins, 32, has had injury problems recently. His last regular-season game for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022 was on October 17. He injured his hamstring but stayed in and had a heroic game – making 4 of 4 field goals, including the game-winner in overtime. He did not play again the rest of the season. This summer, he missed some time in training camp with an undisclosed injury. In two game appearances, he made 3 field goals and 2 PATs. The Chargers gave the job to second-year kicker Cameron Dicker partly because of Hopkins’ recent injury history. I don’t know why the Browns traded for Hopkins – giving up a seventh-round pick in 2025 – rather than sign future Hall of Fame candidate Robbie Gould, who is 40 and apparently is picky about his next team. But by choosing a kicker with a history of leg injuries, the Browns probably have to add another kicker to their practice squad.
Dustin Hopkins is an improvement over Cade York -- if he can stay healthy, which he hasn't recently.
2. The Browns intend to waive York, but it is interesting that they haven’t done it yet. Perhaps they’re waiting for right up until the Tuesday 4 p.m. deadline to improve the chances of York going unclaimed. Who would claim a kicker who’s missed 5 of 9 field-goal tries and 1 PAT in preseason after leading the NFL in missed kicks in 2022, anyway? It wouldn’t surprise me if the Browns re-sign York to their practice squad. I don’t know if York would agree to that, but he might not have a lot of options.
3. There’s been a lot of talk about why the Browns didn’t bring in another kicker to compete with York either last year or this year. This decision was GM Andrew Berry’s. Rather than devote one of 90 roster spots to another kicker, Berry anointed York as the team’s starting kicker and wanted him to take every rep in training camp. Unchallenged for his roster spot, York actually was great in practices and made almost every kick over two training camps. He didn’t take the job for granted. But another kicker in camp could have served as insurance if York flamed out like he did. Another kicker in camp could have been acclimated to the Browns’ placement team and special teams system. Another kicker in camp could have saved Berry from giving up a draft pick for a replacement.
4. Don’t look now but the Browns’ running back room is … not as good as the past two seasons. Nick Chubb is Nick Chubb, so that hasn’t changed. But designated RB2 Jerome Ford’s extended absence with a hamstring injury forced the Browns to seek an insurance back. The unspoken hope was undrafted free agent Hassan Hall would fill the bill. That didn’t happen. Next up was Jordan Wilkins, an experienced NFL back with the Colts. The job was his until he fumbled two handoff exchanges from Deshaun Watson in Kansas City. So Berry traded offensive tackle Tyrone Wheatley Jr. to New England for second-year back Pierre Strong. Ford hasn’t practiced in three weeks. His status for the season-opener is uncertain. Whomever backs up Chubb against Cincinnati, he will only have two weeks’ practice with the Browns to be ready.
5. The Browns are expected to waive guard Michael Dunn and have terminated the contract of guard Wes Martin. The expected move on Dunn would be a surprise because Dunn was the No. 1 backup in camp to starting guards Joel Bitonio and Wyatt Teller. Dunn also had the position flexibility to fill-in at tackle, even center. So why wouldn’t they keep him? Again, it’s all about giving the team’s drafted players every opportunity to be kept. Centers Nick Harris (fifth round, 2020) and Luke Wypler (sixth round, 2023) have been trained at guard to earn a spot on the 53. As line coach Bill Callahan said earlier in August, “Those [draft picks] are going to play and they’re going to play early. And whether you like it or not, if they get drafted, they’re going to play.” How a player enters the NFL stays with him his entire career. If he’s drafted, he gets every benefit of doubt.
6. The season-ending injury to Jakeem Grant should have opened a spot on the 53 for Austin Watkins. But a day later, the Browns removed the NFI designation on receiver Marquise Goodwin, clearing his path to return to practice and possibly be active for the season-opener. All of which could lead to Watkins being frozen out of the 53. The receivers depth chart could look like this: Amari Cooper, Elijah Moore, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Goodwin, Cedric Tillman and David Bell. Watkins has outplayed every non-starter but appears to be practice squad-bound – unless another team claims him when waived.
7. The trade of Joshua Dobbs shook up the QB room and the coaches. Nobody saw it coming – except Berry. Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and coach Kevin Stefanski – none expected it. No coach of a playoff-aspiring team would want to go into the season with a fifth-round rookie as his primary backup QB. So how does Berry alleviate this situation? I wouldn’t be surprised if Berry adds a veteran QB off waivers and keeps him as QB3 – or even QB2. Promoting DTR prematurely to QB2 is simply an unnecessary risk. It’s the Berry equivalent to Stefanski being too cute on play-calls near the goal line on game days.
