Cleveland Browns have no easy decisions with kicker problem

The Cleveland Browns clearly have an issue when it comes to their kicker, but there are no easy decisions for the team to make at the position.

With two weeks left in the preseason, is has become abundantly clear that the Cleveland Browns have a major problem when it comes to deciding who their kicker is going to be.

Expecting to get the best out of both players because of being in a competition, both veteran Greg Joseph and rookie Austin Seibert have been inconsistent since the start of training camp. The lack of consistency has bothered the Browns front office and coaching staff.

Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens said Sunday the team has discussed bringing another kicker in the fold. But Kitchens slightly reversed course Monday, saying the team is not looking at adding another kicker to the roster currently.

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So far during the preseason, Joseph is 1/2 on field goals, with his miss coming from over 50 yards, and 2/3 on extra points. Seibert is 0/1 on field goals with his only attempt being over 50 yards, and 4/4 on extra points. However, the biggest issues for the two have come during practice, as both have regularly missed kicks.

Since both players have struggled with consistently making kicks, it is hard to say there is a front-runner for the job. Joseph has made the most kicks, but it does not mean that he is hitting them at a high enough average to be considered a favorite to win the job.

It is easy to say the Browns could find another kicker on the open market, but there are not many kickers who have been consistent at making kicks in their own right. The best available is Matt Bryant, but he is 44-years-old and played at least half of his seasons in a dome, which could make kicking off the windy shores of Lake Erie a difficult adjustment. Although he was a good kicker last season, Bryant has not generated much interest since becoming a free agent.

If the Browns decide to pick between Joseph or Seibert to be their kicker for 2019, picking either player is a tough decision. Joseph has been the better kicker during training camp, so it would not be the wisest decision to release him. But even though Seibert has struggled mightily, the Browns may not want to cut ties with a  2019 fifth-round selection already.

The problems at kicker have become a major issue for the Browns with just half of the preseason remaining. But no matter which direction the organization decides to go, they will be forced to make a tough decision.