Home
The Cleveland Browns are facing challenges both on the field and with their salary cap, with these issues often intertwined. One key example is quarterback Deshaun Watson, whose underperformance has become a major topic of concern. However, due to his hefty contract, moving on from Watson is not an easy option, despite what many may think.
Last year, General Manager Andrew Berry made a savvy move by acquiring kicker Dustin Hopkins, who proved to be a brilliant find. The Browns traded a 2025 seventh-round pick for Hopkins, and he delivered a stellar season, making 33 out of 36 field goals, including going a perfect eight-for-eight on kicks over 50 yards.
Hopkins extension
This past offseason, Berry rewarded Hopkins with a three-year extension, elevating him among the league’s highest-paid kickers. However, much like other aspects of the Browns’ 2024 season, Hopkins has struggled. In Week 11 against the New Orleans Saints, Hopkins missed three field goals in the first half. Prior to that, he had already missed four kicks, three of which were from over 50 yards.
Despite fan calls for his release, Hopkins' contract makes such a move difficult. Waiving him outright would significantly increase his salary cap hit this year and add dead cap to next year. If the Browns were to release Hopkins before June 1st this offseason, his cap charge would jump from $2.8 million to $5.67 million. A post-June 1st release would still raise his cap hit by $684K in 2025, with an additional $2 million in dead cap for 2026.
Similar to Watson, Hopkins' contract structure makes him unlikely to be cut, even amid his struggles.
The Browns signed Hopkins to a three-year, $15.9 million extension, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, making him one of the NFL's top five highest-paid kickers. In 2023, Hopkins set a franchise record by converting 33 of 36 field goal attempts, including a career-long 58-yard field goal. He also set an NFL record by making a field goal of at least 50 yards in five consecutive games.
Hopkins, 33, was initially set to enter the final year of his contract with a base value of $2.875 million.
Highest-Paid Kickers in the NFL (Annual Pay)
- Justin Tucker – Ravens: $6M
- Jake Elliott – Eagles: $6M
- Matt Gay – Colts: $5.62M
- Graham Gano – Giants: $5.5M
- Dustin Hopkins – Browns: $5.3M
- Ka'imi Fairbairn – Texans: $5.3M
How was Hopkins roped in?
Two weeks before the start of the 2023 season, the Browns traded a seventh-round pick in 2025 to the Los Angeles Chargers for Hopkins. A former sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2013, Hopkins had been waived by Buffalo, the New Orleans Saints, and the Washington Commanders, and lost his job with the Chargers before finding success with the Browns in 2023.
Hopkins did miss the Browns’ final two regular-season games and their playoff loss to the Houston Texans due to a hamstring injury. This was not his first hamstring injury, as he also dealt with a significant hamstring issue with the Chargers in 2022. However, he is now healthy and participated in the team’s minicamp.
