Browns setting up Dustin Hopkins for success right away

Cleveland Browns decided to move on from Cade York and it was a move that was not expected heading into the 2023 season. The Browns replaced him with veteran K Dustin Hopkins by trading a seventh-round pick in 2025 to the Los Angeles Chargers. If Hopkins can be that guy for Cleveland, they’ll be delighted […]

Brandon Little — Ohio State Buckeyes & Cleveland Browns News Writer

Aug 30, 2023 11:26 AM EDT

Cleveland Browns decided to move on from Cade York and it was a move that was not expected heading into the 2023 season.

The Browns replaced him with veteran K Dustin Hopkins by trading a seventh-round pick in 2025 to the Los Angeles Chargers.

If Hopkins can be that guy for Cleveland, they’ll be delighted it worked out. But even if York goes elsewhere and plays well, the Browns still made the right choice. The second-year kicker had an entire preseason to show his worth to the team and was unable to do so.

It looks as if the Browns are already setting Hopkins up for success. Tomorrow, the team will practice at Cleveland Browns Stadium, an interesting spot for Hopkins to kick right away instead of the normal practice facility in Berea. NFL teams rarely practice in their home stadium, so this is unique.

A lot of the issues kickers have in Cleveland are kicking in the weather and wind. With the stadium being right on the lake, it gives its fits to pretty much all kickers, unless your name is Justin Tucker.

Having Hopkins kick at the stadium in one of his first practices is a good thing. The preseason is over and the real thing is right ahead for the Browns. Cleveland’s new kicker will at least be able to get an idea of what it is like to kick in Cleveland.

In the past, Hopkins has never kicked a field goal. He is 2-of-3 on his extra-point kicks in The Land.

Cleveland opens up the season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals, who have a good young kicker in Evan McPherson. Divisional games can come down to a field goal kick at any time, so the Browns preparing their kicker the best way they can is smart.