Washington Commanders Acquire Kicker Cade York from Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders Trade for Kicker Cade York from Cleveland Browns The Washington Commanders have acquired kicker Cade York from the Cleveland Browns, sending a conditional seventh-round pick in return. This move aims to address the team’s ongoing special teams challenges.
York, a placekicker who was drafted by Cleveland from LSU in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, initially made headlines with a game-winning 58-yard field goal in his debut. However, his rookie season was marked by inconsistency, with 24 successful field goals out of 32 attempts and only 9 of 12 from 30 to 49 yards.
Following a difficult preseason where York missed several critical kicks and an extra point, the Browns traded for veteran kicker Dustin Hopkins and subsequently released York. He spent part of the 2023 season on practice squads with the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants, where he suffered a quad injury and did not see any game action. York was later re-signed by Cleveland in the offseason.
This acquisition marks York as the third kicker the Commanders have signed since releasing veteran Brandon McManus in May. McManus was brought in after the team let go of Joey Slye, but his tenure was cut short following a sexual assault lawsuit. The Commanders had also added kickers Ramiz Ahmed and veteran Riley Patterson in the interim.
