There are only a couple of days until the Browns open training camp. That happens with a full-squad practice on July 23.
The offensive and defensive position groups have already been previewed. Now, the final installment focuses the spotlight on the specialists.
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That spotlight is going to shine especially bright on kicker Dustin Hopkins, who is just now beginning a three-year contract extension. The timing couldn’t have been worse, though, as he faltered badly down the stretch in 2024.
So how does a bounce-back year look for Hopkins? And what else is there to know about the Browns special teams, including the return game?
PlacekickersLong snappersPunter
(* — denotes rookie)
Into the numbers: Cleveland Browns specialists/special teams
Hopkins went from a 2023 season in which he made 33 of 36 field goals and 24 of 26 extra points to a 2024 season in which he was 18 of 27 on field goals and 17 of 20 on PATs. He also went from 8 of 8 on field goals of 50-plus yards to 4 of 8 on those kicks.
Sunahara took over for an injured Charley Hughlett in Week 6 of the 2024 season and performed well enough to lead the Browns to release Hughlett, one of their longest-tenured players, in February. He participated in 93 total special teams plays during the season.
Bojorquez has found his groove in his first three seasons in Cleveland. All of his primary numbers — punts (237), yards (11,640), yards per punt (49.1), net yards per punt (41.3) and punts inside the opponent’s 20 (90) — well exceed his totals from either of his previous stops with the Green Bay Packers or Buffalo Bills.
DeAndre Carter was signed in the offseason to provide the Browns with a reliable return specialist for both kicks and punts. Over his first seven seasons, he’s averaged 9.7 yards on 149 punt returns and 23.5 yards on 133 kickoff returns, including one touchdown.
Cleveland Browns holder Corey Bojorquez (13) and kicker Dustin Hopkins (7) celebrate after Hopkins’ field goal against the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 27, 2024, in Cleveland, Ohio.
What they’re saying: Cleveland Browns specialists/special teams
Browns special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone on Hopkins bouncing back from 2024, on June 4: “Yeah, I think with any player, you know, it’s a new season. Everything that you’ve done in the past, obviously those things contribute and matter, but we’re clean slate. I feel like he’s in a good space mentally. I think that he has hit the ball well in the spring to this point. Had a nice day yesterday, and we’re just gonna keep working it like we have and understand that it’s a process, and we’re gonna get to where we’re going.”
Ventrone on Hopkins’ mental approach, on June 4: “I’m not saying that he wasn’t in a good space mentally, but when you’re having that many missed kicks, you know, and the results aren’t coming and you’re working, you’re putting in the time and effort, you can be a little bit inconsistent there relative to the situation.”
Ventrone on second year of new kickoff rule, on June 4: “We hired a new assistant special teams coach, Kyle Hoke. So, we did a lot of research that actually was tag team with, I would say, our analytics department on the data relative to where the balls kicked, caught, all that stuff. And then going back and looking at the techniques that go into the play, I feel like we have a much better grasp on how we want to attack that play. So, looking forward to applying everything, not only in the OTAs, but obviously moving into training camp and then preseason and the regular season.”
Ventrone on long-snapping competition, on June 4: “It’s good to have competition at every position as long as the roster can handle it. We felt like at that position we needed to have some competition. Obviously snapping is a big evaluation of that position. Ability to protect, ability to cover all those things will factor into making a decision on that.”
Ventrone on Carter’s contributions on special teams, on June 4: “I had D.C. his rookie year, we had him on practice squad in New England. So, me and CO [wide receivers coach Chad O’Shea] were pretty familiar with him. Extremely hard worker, undrafted kid that has a lot of talent and experience. He’s done a really good job. He’s been a combo returner since he’s been in the league, had a lot of production. Last year, he had good production in the kick return game. I would say that he’s at the top of the depth chart for us right now in both of those phases.”
Training camp analysis: Cleveland Browns specialists
This all falls on Hopkins, really. Can the veteran kicker bounce back from the disappointing final seven or eight games from 2024, or was 2023 just an incredible aberration? Szmyt is primarily just an extra camp leg for now, but the Browns showed in 2024 they weren’t afraid to make a change if necessary, even if just for a week. Bojorquez has been one of the league’s steadiest punters since signing with the Browns in 2022. Sunahara got to test drive the long-snapper job last year that had been Hughlett’s for so long, and did well. With luck, Carter’s presence can stabilize the return game in a way that it’s rarely been over the last several seasons.
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Chris Easterling can be reached at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Browns at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/browns. Follow him on X at @ceasterlingABJ
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Browns 2025 camp position preview: Rebound year for Dustin Hopkins?