The Cleveland Browns moved quickly to resolve their logjam at kicker. After using a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft to select LSU’s Cade York, the Browns released both Chase McLaughlin and Chris Blewitt on Monday.
McLaughlin had just re-signed weeks before the NFL draft. Cleveland’s primary kicker all of 2021, McLaughlin struggled mightily during the season. In 16 games, he made just 71.4% of his field goals and missed an extra point.
Amazingly, all six of his misses in 2021 came between 40 and 49 yards but he was a perfect 4 for 4 from 50 yards or longer.
Blewitt did not kick for the team last year.
In York, the Browns hope to finally find their replacement for Phil Dawson. He is the third kicker the team has drafted following in the footsteps of Zane Gonzalez and Austin Seibert.
Neither drafted kicker lasted long with the team.
It is possible Cleveland brings in another kicker to have someone to share the load with York this offseason as well as to have on the practice squad in case of emergency. The options on the free-agent market are quite limited, however.