5 surprises from Week 1 of Cleveland Browns training camp
By Randy Gurzi
2. Cade York might be better than advertised
Cade York could end up being a fan favorite this season. A fourth-round pick out of LSU, York was questioned as a selection that early in the draft. While most teams were still landing skill players, Cleveland was making a commitment to their kicking game.
No longer satisfied with untimely missed field goals and whiffs on extra points, the Browns not only used a mid-round pick on York, but they also told him from the start he would have no competition.
So far, that seems to have given the young man a lot of confidence. While he was expected to be good, he might actually be exceeding expectations already. York has been continually knocking in one kick after another and on Monday, we won more fans by drilling a 46-yarder during a “fire drill” simulation.
Simulated fire drill field goal. Cade York hustles on and is right down the middle from 46. People in the bleachers are openly weeping.
— Zac Jackson (@AkronJackson) August 1, 2022
He’s gone several practices with no misses at all and was 6-of-6 on Monday, even hitting a 51-yarder with several yards to spare.
#Browns K Cade York continues to impress, this from over 50 yards pic.twitter.com/nA0SKzvNha
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) August 1, 2022
Cleveland has struggled mightily in the kicking game over the past several seasons. They did add Zane Gonzalez in Round 7 of the 2017 NFL Draft and when they moved on from him, Austin Seibert was their next draft choice — he was added in Round 5 of the 2019 NFL Draft.
With those choices not working out, some felt that drafting a kicker would be a waste of a pick. York, however, could be even better than the Browns thought. If so, no one will question that pick — and a kicker who gives them confidence will have been well worth the price.