The Cleveland Browns have a lot of drama surrounding their team at the quarterback position, and it’s not too hard to see why. Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders are all competing for the starting job, and at this point, it seems like any one of them could end up being under center come Week 1. However, that’s not the only spot worth keeping an eye on ahead of training camp.
In 2024, Cleveland underperformed in many different areas, with one of them being the kicking game. The gig was handled by Dustin Hopkins, who enjoyed a strong year in 2023. Things didn’t go nearly as well for him last season, and with training camp right around the corner, one Browns insider believes that his job could be in jeopardy.
Could Browns Move on From Dustin Hopkins?
After spending his first nine seasons with the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers, Hopkins latched on with Cleveland in 2023. He ended up putting together one of the best years of his career, as he made 33 of his 36 field goal attempts, in addition to hitting 24 of his 26 extra-point attempts. As a result, the team signed him to a three-year, $15.9 million contract extension in July of last year.
Things did not go nearly as well for Hopkins, as he followed up his strong campaign with one of the worst of his career. The veteran kicker made just 17 of his 28 field goal attempts, with his field goal percentage of 66.7% being the lowest in any season of his career. He also missed three of his 20 extra-point attempts, as he struggled to find the same sort of consistency he enjoyed in 2023.
Hopkins earned a longer leash for himself in 2023, but he’s likely burned much of that goodwill after struggling so badly last year. With that in mind, Browns insider Zac Jackson of The Athletic believes that if Hopkins were to struggle again during training camp and preseason play, his spot on Cleveland’s roster could be in jeopardy.
“Coming off Hopkins’ nightmarish 2024 season, his outlook can also fairly be tied to some bigger-picture issues,” Jackson wrote. “Hopkins got a contract extension from general manager Andrew Berry before last season, then made just 18 of 27 field goals and also missed three PATs. Hopkins has to be better, immediately, or the Browns will have to move on.”
Dustin Hopkins Looking to Bounce Back in 2025
Getty| Kicker Dustin Hopkins of the Cleveland Browns.
The good news for Hopkins heading into training camp is that as of right now, he’s the only kicker on the Browns roster. While another option could be brought into town to provide him some competition, as of right now, the job is his, and even if someone else is signed, he will automatically have the inside track over them.
As 2024 proved, though, there’s no guarantee that Hopkins will perform at the level he once did, and if he struggles again, Cleveland’s front office needs to have a contingency plan ready to go. Right now, this seems to be the least of the Browns’ concerns, but Hopkins will have to perform right from the get-go, or he could find himself without a job before he knows it.
