Browns kicker Cade York missed his first field goal attempt in the 2023 campaign. He also came within a hair’s breadth of missing his first PAT.
While normally this in and of itself should not be cause for alarm, given York’s history, it should be. In his rookie year, York ranked near the bottom of the league in field goal percentage, making just three of every four attempted. Despite this, the Browns elected not to bring in any competition for him during training camp, and there have been many stories about his newfound mentality and mental toughness. But for him to miss his first kick of the season is… a problem.
The Browns Have a Cade York Problem
York consistently looks great in practice. He makes all his kicks, and he booms the ball all over the field. That doesn’t translate to the games.
Here’s what Head Coach Kevin Stefanski had to say regarding York’s mistakes:
“Well, I think I see it very similar to all of our players, Tony. I think it’s the preseason. It’s time to work. It’s time to gain valuable experience both in practice and in the games. But past that, I don’t know that it’s anything for the future that is majorly concerning. He’s a young player that’s working and I know he’s going to continue to work.”
Almost a year ago, York missed a potential game-winning field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers. Here’s what Stefanki had to say about that:
“With a young player, you kind of just focus on getting better each day. Not losing confidence in him. He is not losing confidence in himself… We will be counting on him next week and the week after that type thing.”
Remarkably similar. But with the Browns in a win-now mode, they cannot afford to simply let Cade York work through it, and the situation doesn’t seem to have improved.
At this point, the Browns personnel department needs to bring in some competition. It’s clear that York needs to feel the pressure on the practice field as well as during the game. Either York will step up when he hears the branch creek under him, or he’ll go crashing back down to earth. Either way, the Browns will resolve the situation once and for all.
Five Potential Competitors for Cade York
Unfortunately for the Browns, August is perhaps the worst time in the NFL calendar to find a replacement for Cade York. Every NFL team has a kicker on the roster, and most have two during camp. However, there are some experienced options out there.
One major downside of signing a kicker past his glory days is losing Cade York’s booming leg on kickoffs. But with the NFL’s new kickoff rules, that might not be as important as it used to be. In addition, punter Corey Bojorquez can make kickoffs, though he’s only done two in NFL games.
Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould is likely the best available option. He’s long been one of the league’s most accurate and respected kickers. Kicking last season for the San Francisco 49ers, he made over 80% of his field goals in five of six seasons. Last year, he connected on 84%, and though he is now 40, he still drilled home on both attempts for over 50 yards. He scored 131 points, the third most in his career.
Mason Crosby
Like Gould, Mason Crosby has long been one of the most respected names in kicking. He never missed a game in his 16 seasons with the Green Bay Packers. In 2022, he scored 5% above his 81% career average and drove home 112 points. His leg isn’t as strong as it once was, though, as he made just one of his four attempts from over 50 yards.
Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop won a Super Bowl ring with Tom Brady in Tampa Bay, where he has kicked for the last three seasons. Like Crosby, his 2022 team moved on from him after concerns were raised when he made just two of seven kicks from over 50 yards. However, he still made 82% of his kicks, just shy of his career average.
Randy Bullock
Randy Bullock was released from the Tennessee Titans in February in a cost-saving measure. At 33, he’s the youngest so far on this list. His 83% field goal percentage is solid, though he’s 50% for his career over 50 yards, which is concerning. However, he’s nearly automatic from inside the 40, unlike York, who missed three from that range last year.
Sam Ficken (or others like him)
Sam Ficken is a bit of an outlier as a potential replacement for Cade York, as Ficken hasn’t kicked in a regular season game since 2020. There are a lot of kickers like Ficken who live on what’s called “the kicker circuit.” If the Browns don’t want to waste a roster spot on another leg right now, bringing in a handful of players like Ficken for auditions could also be worthwhile. First, to get an idea of what’s out there that might be under the radar. But also, it might be enough to let Cade York know his roster spot isn’t a guarantee.
No matter what the Browns do about their Cade York situation, the coaches and scouts must remember that the time for winning is right now.
And act accordingly.
Main Image: Jeff Lange / USA TODAY NETWORK
