The Cleveland Browns’ decision on Dustin Hopkins is coming down to the wire, and the veteran kicker may have just squandered his final chance to stick around.
Hopkins is coming off a rough 2024 season, and his struggles have bled into the preseason. While he connected on all three of his field-goal attempts in exhibition play, he also missed two extra points — nearly botching a third. His latest miscue came in the first half against the Los Angeles Rams, when he pushed a PAT wide left.
“Honestly, I didn’t like the shorter one I made — the field goal,” Hopkins told Ashley Bastock of cleveland.com. “I didn’t love the way I contacted the ball. So on the next kick, I was like, hey, I’m committing to contacting the ball and I’m gonna live with whatever the results are. And I contacted really well, but my leg lock was a little early and great contact, but just poor direction.”
The numbers paint a troubling picture. Hopkins hit a career-low 66% of his field goals (18-of-27) last season and also missed three extra points. That was a sharp decline from 2023, when he went 33-of-36 overall and a perfect 8-of-8 from 50-plus yards. His strong showing that year earned him a three-year extension, placing him among the league’s highest-paid kickers at the time.
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski was non-committal when asked about Hopkins’ future with the team on Saturday.
“Yeah, all those type of decisions, we’ll talk about,” he said.
Andre Szmyt Emerging as Option for Browns
While Hopkins has struggled, the Browns’ other kicker — Andre Szmyt — has remained perfect. He’s booted three field goals — with a long of 49 yards — in the preseason. Szmyt drilled the game-winner against the Rams as time expired from 37 yards out.
Szmyt is a journeyman and has never attempted a kick in a regular-season game. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears in 2023 but didn’t make the roster. He has also spent time in the UFL, where he played for the St. Louis Battlehawks. Szmyt had a strong college career at Syracuse, winning the Lou Groza Award in 2018.
Moving on from Hopkins in favor of Szmyt would be risky and with some financial implications, saddling the Browns with nearly $6 million in dead cap. Still, Szmyt has done his part to make the choice difficult.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Szmyt said when asked if he’s done enough to stick around. “I just put my best foot forward and then whatever happens, it’s meant to be that way. So just kind of do the best I can and then leave it up to the people who make those decisions.”
Quarterback Tyler Huntley Most Notable Browns’ Cut so Far
The Browns released their first wave of cuts on Sunday, parting ways with 21 players.
Offensive tackle Jackson Barton, cornerback Tony Brown II, safety Nik Needham and quarterback Tyler Huntley had their contracts terminated.
Among those waived were cornerbacks Chigozie Anusiem, Christian Holmes, Keenan Isaac, and Darius Rush; tight ends Sal Canella and Mitchell Van Vooren; guards Javion Cohen and Dartanyan Tinsley; tackles Sebastian Gutierrez, Jason Ivey, and Lorenzo Thompson; defensive linemen K.J. Henry, Ralph Holley, and Titus Le; linebackers Marvin Moody and Charlie Thomas III; and center Bucky Williams.
The Browns are waiting to make a decision on their kicker. The deadline to trim the roster to 53 players is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.
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