The Browns traded a $9 million specialist, one of the “smartest” in the NFL

In the weeks preceding the season, the Cleveland Browns were active in the trade market, making both one of the best and one of the worst deals in the NFL.

On Sunday, November 12, in Baltimore, the Browns defeated the Ravens 33–31, demonstrating the positive. When Cleveland kicker Dustin Hopkins’ football went through the uprights to give his team its first-ever victory of the season, the clock reached zeroes.

After the game, Field Yates of ESPN praised the Browns on social media for their decision to trade for Hopkins and the amount they had to pay to get him.

Dustin Hopkins for a 7th-round selection in 2025. One of the off-season’s best decisions, Yates commented on X. Huge victory for the Browns.

Dustin Hopkins Has Been Clutch for Browns All Season

The trade of Hopkins by Cleveland and the events leading up to that choice provide a unique example of an NFL team owning up to its error and making the necessary corrections before more harm is done.

The Browns selected LSU kicker Cade York with a fourth-round draft selection in 2022. York had flashes during his rookie campaign, but in the end, he was too unpredictable in pivotal situations. According to Pro Football Reference (PFR), he made 75% of his field goals (24 of 32) and connected on 35 of his 37 extra point attempts at the end of the season.

York had a difficult summer, missing kicks in all four of Cleveland’s preseason games and going 4-of-8 on field goals. Hopkins lost his starting position in L.A. to Cameron Dicker as a result, and the Browns acquired Hopkins in exchange for a seventh-round pick from the Los Angeles Chargers.

Given that the 33-year-old kicker is currently in the second season of a three-year, $9 million contract, Hopkins’ contract was not something to take lightly. But the move has paid off, as in his first eight games, Hopkins has been named the AFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week twice.

According to PFR, Hopkins led the league going into Week 10 in both field goal attempts (23) and field goals made (20). Against the Ravens on Sunday, he completed 4-of-4, including the game-winning play. He finished the year 14 of 15 and was 1 of 2 on extra points.

In 2023, York did not kick in a game during the regular season. Following his release from the Browns, he joined the practice squad of the Tennessee Titans. Following Graham Gano’s injury, the New York Giants signed York off that practice squad in early November so he could contend for the starting position.

Browns Made Poor Decision to Trade QB Josh Dobbs

Examining the mistakes made by the Browns front office is just as important as applauding their successes, particularly when they happen so close together.

Josh Dobbs, the quarterback, was traded by Cleveland to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round pick, which might have been the worst trade of the preseason. Dobbs led the Cardinals to an unexpected victory over the Dallas Cowboys in eight starts while playing in the desert.

Then, shortly before the October 31 deadline, Arizona traded Dobbs to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick. Since then, Dobbs has guided the Vikings to two victories. During that time, he has scored five touchdowns in total and has QBRs of 86.6 and 88.3, respectively.

This season, the Browns have started three of their nine games with backup quarterbacks. Against the Indianapolis Colts, Deshaun Watson had to be replaced by a reserve after he was forced out with an injury after only five passes completed.

Without Watson, Cleveland went 2-2 in those games; however, P.J. Walker had a very difficult time during that time, much like rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson had before him. In Watson’s absence, Dobbs would have undoubtedly bolstered the Browns, but he will instead try to guide the 6-4 Vikings to a postseason appearance.