Jets sign potential Nick Folk replacement in uninspiring move

The New York Jets lost one of the most important pieces of their historic 2025 special-teams unit this week when kicker Nick Folk agreed to terms on a two-year, $9 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday. Two days later, the Jets may have found his replacement.

The Jets have reportedly agreed to a one-year deal with former Cleveland Browns fourth-round pick Cade York, who will have a chance to win the kicker job and supplant Folk this summer.

While many Jets fans were hoping for a more notable addition, such as someone like Matt Prater or Daniel Carlson, the Jets have seemingly decided to go cheap at the position, signing a player who didn't even appear in a game last season.

York is a career 73% field-goal kicker who hasn't played in an NFL game since the 2024 season. He will now be given a massive opportunity to salvage his career with the Jets this summer.

New Jets kicker Cade York is an underwhelming signing

A fourth-round pick of the Browns in the 2022 NFL Draft, York lasted just one season in Cleveland after making only 75% of his field-goal attempts that year, while also missing two extra points.

York bounced around on practice squads in 2023 before resurfacing with the Washington Commanders in 2024. The LSU product would proceed to miss both of his field-goal attempts in the team's season-opener before being released after just one game.

York later joined the Bengals' roster in December of that year following an injury to Evan McPherson, kicking in five games and making 9-of-11 field-goal attempts and 14-of-15 extra points.

He'd spend most of the 2025 season out of football before briefly latching on with the Saints for a few weeks in November and December, although he never appeared in a game and was passed up on the depth chart by international player Charlie Smyth.

Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo and his staff deserve some degree of trust after what his unit was able to accomplish last season. Austin McNamara had never appeared in an NFL game before the Jets signed him last March, and he went on to be one of the best punters in football in 2025.

Even camp invites like kicker Harrison Mevis and punter Kai Kroeger found success with other teams, proving that Banjo's staff has an eye for specialist talent. The Jets are hoping York could be their latest success story.

Expect the Jets to add competition for York at some point, quite possibly via the 2026 NFL Draft or via undrafted free agency.

New Jets kicker Cade York is an underwhelming signing

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