The Cleveland Browns picked LSU kicker Cade York in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Selecting a kicker with such a high draft pick means they must have very high hopes for him. It also means that they’re likely going to make some cuts on the roster to accommodate him and his salary.
Per Ian Rapoport, the Browns released both of their veteran kickers on the roster, Chase McLaughlin and Chris Blewitt.
After drafting #LSU K Cade York, the #Browns have released kickers Chase McLaughlin and Chris Blewitt.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 2, 2022
It’s not too surprising that Cleveland would make the move. McLaughlin was their primary kicker in 2021 but converted just 71.4% of his field goals. As a team, the Browns made just 72.7% of their field goals last season.
Meanwhile, York brings with him a reputation for being able to make big kicks. He went 164-for-168 on extra points and 56-of-66 on field goals in his LSU career.
Blewitt previously played for the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. Meanwhile, McLaughlin has played for eight different NFL teams in his career. Both can expect to get a shot to make a new roster in 2022, though they’ll have to work on their kicking percentages if they want to stay with a team into the season.
So while the Browns attempt to figure out what they’re doing with their quarterback depth chart, it looks like they’re pretty clear on how they want their kicking game to look this season.
