Browns reportedly signed Dustin Hopkins to new 3-year contract, making him one of the highest-paid kickers in the league

The Cleveland Browns locked up Dustin Hopkins and made him one of the highest-paid kickers in the league in the process.

Hopkins and the Browns agreed to a three-year, $15.9 million extension on Monday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The new deal, which will pay Hopkins about $5.3 million per season, makes him one of the five highest-paid kickers in the NFL.

Hopkins was set to enter the final year of a three-year, $9 million contract he first signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022 this fall. Now, the Browns have him under contract through the 2027 campaign.

Hopkins, who the Buffalo Bills first selected in the 2013 NFL Draft before later cutting him, spent time with the Washington Commanders and Chargers before landing in Cleveland ahead of the 2023 season. With the Browns, he hit the franchise-record 33 of his 36 field goal attempts last season. He made a 58-yard throw throughout his career and set an NFL record after playing five consecutive games while making a field goal of 50 yards or longer.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker and Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott currently earn $6 million per season, making them the highest-paid kickers in the league. Only Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay and New York Giants kicker Graham Gano still make slightly more than Hopkins under his new contract.

The Browns went 11-6 last season and made the playoffs for just the second time in the past two decades. The team also went 5-0 in games decided by field goals last season. Although Hopkins missed the final two regular season games and the playoff loss to the Houston Texans due to a hamstring injury, he is expected to be fully healthy for the start of the season this fall.