Titans get intriguing insurance policy with new addition
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans made a move to acquire their kicker for the 2023 season when they traded a seventh-round pick to the New England Patriots for 38-year-old Nick Folk on Tuesday. Now less than 24 hours after the deal, Tennessee has added a much younger insurance policy behind Folk with the signing of […]
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans made a move to acquire their kicker for the 2023 season when they traded a seventh-round pick to the New England Patriots for 38-year-old Nick Folk on Tuesday.
Now less than 24 hours after the deal, Tennessee has added a much younger insurance policy behind Folk with the signing of 22-year-old Cade York.
York was widely considered the top kicking prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft after three strong collegiate seasons at LSU and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round last year.
But after some struggles as a rookie, the Browns traded for Dustin Hopkins and waived York on cut day.
For Tennessee, bringing York onto the practice squad makes all the sense in the world. Folk is the reliable guy you lean on in 2023, but just in case Folk goes down or has a start like he did in 2017, you add some depth with serious upside behind him.
Folk is also in the last year of his contract, and the Titans will likely be stuck looking for another kicker next offseason. In signing York, Tennessee now has an internal option that could take over the kicking duties in the future.
York was 24-for-32 on field goal attempts as a rookie including three inexcusable missed from 30-39 yards out. But it wasn't all bad with Cleveland, either.
In Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers, York's NFL debut, he was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals and drilled a game-winning 58-yard kick with enough distance to hit from well beyond 60.
It's not hard to see the upside Cleveland saw when they picked him 124th overall.
Only time will tell if York actually suits up for the Titans and provides them with a long-term solution at kicker. But for now, it's hard not to support this addition given there is no risk for Tennessee and a lot of untapped potential.
Titans finally show commitment to kicker in trade for Nick Folk
The Titans have their kicker.
