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John Keim, ESPN Staff Writer
ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders have traded for kicker Cade York, hoping he can solve a hole created by an unexpected turn of events in the spring.
The Commanders sent a conditional seventh-round pick to the Cleveland Browns to acquire York, multiple sources confirmed to ESPN. He becomes the third kicker they’ve acquired since having to release veteran Brandon McManus in May.
Cleveland selected York out of LSU in the fourth round of the 2022 draft and he rewarded them immediately with a 58-yard game winning field goal to beat Carolina in his debut. But York struggled thereafter, making 24-of-32 kicks his rookie season. He was nine-for-12 in kicks between 30 and 49 yards.
Then, last preseason, York missed multiple game-winning kicks — one was blocked — in addition to an extra point. The Browns then traded for veteran Dustin Hopkins and released York.
The Commanders signed McManus in the offseason after allowing Joey Slye, who handled the duties the previous two-plus years, to leave via free agency. But they cut McManus after a lawsuit was filed against him alleging sexual assault on a team plane while he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Washington coach Dan Quinn said they did not know about McManus’ situation prior to signing him.
Washington signed Ramiz Ahmed in the spring and then added veteran Riley Patterson in training camp. The Commanders cut Ahmed on Aug. 13. Patterson had been inconsistent in practice and then missed two of four field goals in Saturday’s preseason game at Miami.
Sports Illustrated first reported the trade.
Information from ESPN reporter Jake Trotter was used in this story.