Cleveland, it appears we have a problem. After ending the 2022 campaign on a sour note, there was optimism that young kicker Cade York could turn it around in 2023. Fans are feeling burned, however, after York's performance in the Hall of Fame Game.
Kevin Stefanski called upon his hand-picked kicker on Cleveland's very first possession of the preseason. York came on and subsequently missed a 49-yard field goal attempt, giving the Dawg Poud immediate flashbacks to his disappointing 2022 season.
At the very least, York needs some competition to put the pressure on. With the market shrinking, the Browns have to act fast. Here are three free-agent kickers the team should sign before their second preseason game.
Potential Cade York Replacements for the Browns
1. Mason Crosby
After spending 16 seasons kicking in Green Bay, Mason Crosby has the experience with cold weather that makes him a perfect fit for kicking in the AFC North. Though he's approaching 39 years old, the former 2007 draft pick is showing no signs of slowing down.
Crosby handled a full plate of opportunities for the Packers last year, converting at a solid 86.2% on 29 FG attempts. His 25 makes tied his best performance since the 30 he hit in 2018, so it's clear he's still got plenty of juice left in his legs.
The veteran was incredibly efficient in the short-to-intermediate range as well. He was a perfect 10-for-10 from 20-29 yards out, 8-for-8 from 30-39 yards, and was off just once from 40-49 yards.
Three of Crosby's four misses on the year were from the 50-plus range, so maybe he's not as big of a deep threat as he once was. But if the Browns' offense improves like it should with Deshaun Watson active from the start and new weapons in town, Crosby won't even need to attempt many from long-range. Plus, his kind of dependability anywhere from 20-49 yards out is what really matters when potentially replacing a streaky kicker.
2. Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould also has an NFC North background that makes him suited to kick in and around Cleveland. Gould enjoyed a successful 11-season run with the Bears, which included a league-leading 32 field goal makes and an All-Pro First Team selection in 2006.
Most recently, he spent each of the past six years in San Francisco. Gould was very productive for the annual Super Bowl contenders, posting an NFL-best 39 FG makes in 2017 and leading the league in FG% in 2018 with a stellar 97.1%.
The 2022 campaign saw Gould remain solid, as he converted 27-of-32 field goal attempts (84.4%). He showed some struggles from 40-49 yards out, however, as he missed four of his 11 attempts.
This issue is what likely caused the 49ers to move on after six seasons, but it doesn't make Gould damaged goods. His success in two different locales that don't always have the best weather speaks for itself.
He's also been part of a Super Bowl run, so he's no stranger to making big kicks. In fact, Gould is perfect on both extra points (39-of-39) and field goals (29-of-29) during the postseason in his career.
For a Browns team looking to return to the playoffs, Gould is the exact kind of talent that could help them get there. He's been linked to a few teams since his split from San Francisco, though, so Cleveland would be smart to act fast.
3. Ryan Succop
Ryan Succop provides yet another veteran option with playoff experience. The Mr. Irrelevant of the 2009 draft, Succop's defied the odds with his career. He's split his 14 seasons in the league across lengthy stints with three different teams (the Chiefs, Titans and Buccaneers), proving to be a valued talent at the position.
Succop is coming off of a three-year run in Tampa Bay where he posted a combined field goal percentage of 84.8% across three seasons and kicked for a Super Bowl champion. The 2022 campaign saw the vet remain incredibly busy, though his efficiency dropped. He converted 31-of-38 FG attempts, posting the fourth-lowest percentage (81.6%) over a full season in his career.
Now, context matters here. Five of Succop's seven misses came from the 50-plus-yard range. The Bucs depended upon him to bail out their lackluster offense time and time again, which led to a career-high seven attempts from 50-plus. Succop's never been known for being a deep threat, and he'd only made one attempt between 2019-2021 from 50 yards or more. So coaching malfeasance is partly to blame for Succop's 2022 numbers.
Meanwhile, the South Carolina product was perfect from 40-49 yards out (12-of-12), and he posted just two total misses from 20-39 yards. Yes, his 2022 FG% doesn't look the greatest, but the stats tell a much different story once you take a closer look at them.
The one thing going against Succop is he doesn't have experience with frigid climates between stops in Kansas City, Tennessee and Tampa Bay. Still, his track record and championship pedigree make him a nice choice.
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