Browns acquire Hopkins from Chargers, reportedly release York

The Cleveland Browns have made a move at kicker, acquiring Dustin Hopkins from the Los Angeles Chargers for a 2025 seventh-round pick, both teams announced Monday.

As a result, the Browns released 2022 fourth-round selection Cade York following struggles in the preseason, a source told NFL insider Jordan Schultz.

York was the highest-drafted kicker since 2016 after being selected by the Browns at No. 124 following a standout career at LSU. The 22-year-old completed 81.8% of his field-goal attempts and 97.6% of his extra-point kicks in three seasons with the Tigers.

But York failed to become the answer to Cleveland's long-standing kicker issues. He had four field-goal misses in eight attempts during the preseason, including a blocked potential game-winner against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday.

The 32-year-old Hopkins became available after losing the Chargers' top job to Cameron Dicker, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Hopkins is entering his ninth NFL season, having joined the Chargers midway through the 2021 campaign following six-and-half years with the Washington Commanders. He made nine of his 10 field-goal attempts and all 12 of his extra-point kicks with L.A. in 2022.