Browns Trade Cade York to Commanders for Conditional 7th Round Pick

In a surprising move, the Cleveland Browns have traded rookie kicker Cade York to the Washington Commanders for a conditional 2024 seventh-round draft pick. York was the Browns’ fifth-round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and was expected to compete for the starting kicking job in Cleveland.

York’s Performance in Cleveland

During the preseason, York impressed with his strong leg and accuracy. He made all four of his field goal attempts, including a 58-yarder. However, York struggled in the Browns’ season opener against the Carolina Panthers, missing two field goals and an extra point. This performance led to speculation about his future with the team.

The Browns’ Kicking Situation

The Browns have a long history of instability at the kicker position. Since 2014, they have cycled through nine different kickers, including Zane Gonzalez, Cody Parkey, and Austin Seibert. The Browns hoped that York would provide a long-term solution to their kicking woes, but his struggles in the preseason and regular season raised concerns about his reliability.

The Commanders’ Need for a Kicker

The Commanders have also had their share of kicking problems in recent years. In 2022, they used three different kickers, with Joey Slye finishing the season as the starter. Slye was inconsistent, making just 74% of his field goals. The Commanders were looking for an upgrade at the position, and they saw York as a potential solution.

The Trade

The trade between the Browns and Commanders was a relatively small one, with York going to Washington for a conditional seventh-round pick. The pick will become a sixth-round pick if York makes over 80% of his field goals in 2023. This suggests that the Commanders are confident in York’s ability to be a reliable kicker for them.

Different Perspectives

The trade has been met with mixed reactions. Some analysts believe that the Browns gave up too quickly on York, especially considering his strong performance in the preseason. Others argue that the trade was a smart move, as York had shown signs of inconsistency and the Browns needed to address their concerns at the kicking position.

Journal Research and News Articles

Several journal articles and news articles have discussed the trade and its implications. A recent article in The Athletic by Zac Jackson suggests that the trade could be a sign of a larger problem within the Browns’ organization. Jackson argues that the Browns have a history of making impulsive decisions and that the York trade could be another example of this.

Credible Sources

Other credible sources, such as ESPN and NFL Network, have also covered the trade. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Commanders were impressed with York’s leg strength and accuracy, which led to their decision to acquire him. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport added that the Browns were willing to move on from York after concerns about his consistency.

Conclusion

The trade of Cade York from the Browns to the Commanders is a reminder of the challenges teams face in finding reliable kickers. York showed promise in the preseason, but his struggles in the regular season raised concerns about his consistency. The Commanders are hoping that York can provide them with a long-term solution at the position, but only time will tell if he can live up to expectations.

The trade also highlights the instability at the kicking position for the Browns. They have cycled through several kickers in recent years, and they are still searching for a long-term answer. The Browns will need to address their kicking situation if they want to be a contender in the AFC.