Breaking News: Washington Commanders Has Acquired Kicker Cade From……Readmore

Breaking News: Washington Commanders Has Acquired Kicker Cade From……Readmore

The Washington Commanders have acquired kicker Cade York from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick. This trade reflects the Commanders’ ongoing efforts to solidify their kicking game following a series of unexpected events and roster adjustments.

York, who was drafted by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of LSU, initially made a strong impression. In his debut season, he delivered a dramatic 58-yard game-winning field goal against the Carolina Panthers, signaling potential for a promising career. However, his performance throughout his rookie year was inconsistent. York completed 24 of 32 field goal attempts and was less reliable on kicks between 30 and 49 yards, going 9-for-12. This erratic performance became a growing concern for the Browns.

The issues continued into the following preseason. York missed several crucial kicks, including one that was blocked and others that were potentially game-winning attempts. This led the Browns to make a move for veteran kicker Dustin Hopkins, who had previously played for the Commanders from 2015 to 2021. As a result, York was released.

York’s difficulties were compounded by a challenging 2023 season. He spent part of the year on the practice squads of the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants. During his time with the Giants, he suffered a quad injury that ultimately ended his season before he could attempt any field goals. Despite being signed by Cleveland in the offseason, the Browns decided to trade him rather than keeping him on the roster.

For the Commanders, the acquisition of York comes amid a tumultuous period for their kicking game. Washington had previously released veteran kicker Brandon McManus in May after he was embroiled in a legal controversy involving allegations of sexual assault on a team plane. The Commanders had signed McManus earlier in the offseason to replace Joey Slye, who had handled kicking duties for over two seasons but left in free agency.

After parting ways with McManus, the Commanders initially brought in Ramiz Ahmed and Riley Patterson. Ahmed was cut on August 13, and Patterson, who joined the team during training camp, struggled with consistency. Patterson missed two of four field goal attempts in a recent preseason game against the Miami Dolphins, which contributed to his release.

York’s arrival signifies the Commanders’ ongoing commitment to finding a reliable solution for their kicking game. Coach Dan Quinn, who was unaware of the legal issues surrounding McManus at the time of his signing, will be hoping that York can provide the stability and performance needed to strengthen their special teams unit. The trade for York highlights Washington’s proactive approach in addressing their special teams challenges as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season.

JMG