Cleveland Browns were set to draft Bengals K Evan McPherson in 2021
The Cleveland Browns have stabilized the kicker position with the selection of LSU standout Cade York.
Drafting a kicker always seemed likely considering Cleveland’s problems at the positions ever since the Joe Banner-Mike Lomarbdi front office axed Phil Dawson. The organization mostly tried castoffs from other teams, while even trying the draft back in 2017 with the selection of Zane Gonzalez.
Obviously, nothing has worked, and Andrew Berry is on the case. According to Cleveland.com’s Terry Pluto (subscription required), the Browns were set to take Bengals’ K Evan McPherson in the 2021 draft and were shocked when Cincinnati made him their pick.
"“They planned to elect him at 153. They didn’t think anyone else would take him. Cincinnati not only surprised the Browns, but the entire NFL by grabbing McPherson at 149,” Pluto wrote."
It all worked out for the Bengals and McPherson, who found a kicker capable of kicking in the clutch. McPherson was key in lifting the Bengals to the Super Bowl, as he made some big-time kicks. Most notably, he hit the overtime game winner to send the Chiefs home for the offseason in the AFC title game.
Cleveland Browns took LB instead
The Browns ended up taking Tony Fields with the that fifth-round pick. Kind of hard to evaluate the West Virginia product, who dealt with some injuries early on. He was credited with four combined tackles.
Perhaps he turns out to be a regular, but as Browns fans know, when you’re taking linebackers in the fifth-round, these players are more likely destined for backup/reserve roles.
So why not invest in the kicking position in the fourth or fifth round? I’m not here to advocate for taking kickers in the first round, but it seems ridiculous that teams think they can patch it up during training camp.
When you’re 30 yards out and there’s three seconds left on the clock, no one is more important than the guy kicking balls into the net on the sideline.
Browns would've kept 44th pick for this one player. dark. Next
The Browns are going all in with York, as the franchise cut every other threat, which assures the rookie the job.