Cleveland Browns acquire kicker Dustin Hopkins from Chargers for 2025 7th-round pick
The Browns have tried to draft the solution to their kicking problems. They've tried to find it through free agency and the waiver wire. Now, they're going to the trade route to see if that's the solution.
In Dustin Hopkins, who is being traded by the Los Angeles Chargers to Browns in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round pick, the team is acquiring about as veteran a kicker as they have had in a decade. They hope Hopkins can be that consistent presence they've been looking for at that spot.
The Browns are going into their 11th season since Phil Dawson departed after the 2012 season in free agency. They've seemingly had that many kickers in that span as well, at least to attempt one field goal.
Hopkins has attempted more than one field goal in his career. In fact, he's attempted 224, making 190, in 109 regular-season games between Washington and Los Angeles, plus another 2 for 2 in two playoff games.
From 40 yards and out, Hopkins is 78 of 107, with a long of 56 yards. He is 15 of 30 from 50 and beyond.
Hopkins came into the league in the first year Dawson wasn't in Cleveland as a 2013 fifth-round pick of the Buffalo Bills. He's going to replace a fourth-round pick in Cade York, who the Browns took in 2022 out of LSU.
It wasn't a case of immediate success for Hopkins, who was waived in 2013 by Buffalo and on the New Orleans Saints practice squad in 2014. It was in 2015 that he found a home in Washington, where he stayed until the middle of the 2021 season.
In 93 games with Washington, Hopkins was 163 of 194 on field goals and 179 of 190 on point-after kicks. He made both playoff field goal with the franchise.
After six games of the 2021 season, Hopkins was released by the Commanders and signed a week later with the Chargers. He kicked in 11 games that season for Los Angeles, going 18 of 20 on field goals.
Hopkins' 2022 season was hampered by a hamstring injury that ultimately led him to end the season on injured reserve. He only kicked in five games, going 9 of 10 on field goals while making all 12 PATs.
Drew Forbes, Wes Martin among other official roster moves
The Browns announced two other roster moves on Monday. They placed offensive guard Drew Forbes on the reserve/non-football illness list, while terminating the contract of offensive guard Wes Martin.
The decision on York has yet to be officially announced by the Browns. So, too, has the reported decision to cut offensive guard Michael Dunn, which was reported by the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on Twitter at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Dustin Hopkins is next Browns kicker after trade with Chargers
