For as long as I can remember, there has been a revolving door at Washington's kicker position. It seems that the franchise hasn’t had a truly reliable, long-term kicker since Chip Lohmiller.

Commanders fans know the song and dance by heart. Washington adds a high-priced veteran to secure the position, he plays relatively well for about a season, and then quickly gets in a rut and fizzles out. The kicker gets released mid-season, and the team adds a street free agent as a temporary fix. Right now, Washington finds itself in the band-aid portion of this cycle, with veteran Jake Moody poised to start camp as the frontrunner.

Last year was supposed to break that cycle, but Adam Peters’ aggressive gamble on Matt Gay—signing him to a one-year, $5 million deal with $4.25 million guaranteed—proved to be a costly misfire. Despite having the highest single-year guaranteed contract assigned to a kicker, Gay struggled during his time in D.C. Gay connected on just 13 of 19 kicks last season, struggling particularly on attempts over 50 yards (going 4-for-9). While division rival Dallas possessed an absolute weapon in Brandon Aubrey, the Commanders' kicking game was an unreliable anchor.

Gay's early-season struggles led to his abrupt release, leaving behind dead cap and sending the front office scrambling for answers.

With Gay on the outs, the Commanders added Jake Moody, who was scooped up off the Chicago practice squad last fall to stop the bleeding. Peters had prior familiarity with Moody from his time in San Francisco and was one of the decision-makers who drafted him in the third round in 2023. Moody did enough down the stretch to earn a one-year deal for 2026, but the front office wasn't about to give him a free pass.

When the Commanders report to Ashburn on July 28th, Moody will be locked in a full-blown camp battle against undrafted rookie Drew Stevens out of Iowa. Dan Quinn has made it clear this fight will go straight through the August preseason slate. Here is a look at the two leg talents fighting for the right to start in Week 1.

Jake Moody arrives in Ashburn with the inside track to start the season. Drafted in the third round (99th overall) by the 49ers in 2023, Moody possesses the draft pedigree and game experience that coaches naturally gravitate toward.

He also performed well last season. When Washington claimed him in 2025, Moody provided immediate stability, connecting on 10 of 11 field goals (90.9%) across six games in D.C.

Across three NFL seasons with San Francisco, Chicago, and Washington, Moody holds a 78.0% career field-goal rate (64-for-82) and a strong 97.3% extra-point conversion rate (107-for-110). After initially not being tendered, Moody was officially re-signed just hours later.

Although Moody isn’t known purely for his distance, he has connected on a few bombs. His career-long field goal is 57 yards (set during his 2023 rookie campaign in San Francisco), and he drilled a 56-yarder during his sophomore season. However, his consistency from long range can be improved; from 50-plus yards in his NFL career, Moody has converted at roughly a 62% clip (8-for-13), including a clutch 55-yarder in Super Bowl LVIII.

Strengths: Big-game experience and familiarity with Washington's operation. While in San Francisco, he kicked in high-pressure playoff games and Super Bowl LVIII. He also established immediate chemistry with holder Tress Way, converting 91% of his kicks in D.C. while gaining valuable experience at Northwest Stadium.

The Concern: Consistency on mid-range kicks. After a solid rookie year, his 2024 slump in San Francisco raised eyebrows. That regression led the 49ers to look for alternatives who could hit mid-range field goals with more consistency.

In a league that is consistently pushing the limits on field-goal range, the Commanders would love to weaponize their special teams unit.

Moody provided a reliable option in D.C. last season, but competition usually brings out the best in people. By bringing in Drew Stevens, Peters is looking to either push Moody to his absolute ceiling or secure a long-term, cost-controlled answer at the position.

Stevens left Iowa as one of the most decorated kickers in Big Ten history, setting 12 school records—including the Hawkeyes' all-time mark for field goals made (76). Over 53 collegiate games, Stevens converted 80.0% of his field goals (76-for-95) and 98.4% of his extra points (124-for-126) for 352 total points.

Stevens holds an elite reputation from deep. His career-long in college was a 58-yard bomb against Oregon in 2025. Over his four years at Iowa, Stevens proved lethal from long distance, connecting on 12 of 18 attempts (66.7%) from 50-plus yards. After going undrafted, Steven was initially invited to minicamp before signing as an undrafted free agent following after drawing interest from other teams around the league.

Strengths: Raw power and experience in a big-time conference. Not only did Stevens play in high-stakes games against NFL-caliber talent, but he also kicked in the savage Midwestern weather. Having kicked in brutal Big Ten winter conditions, Stevens offers 60-plus-yard range that could fundamentally influence Dan Quinn’s late-half decision-making near the midfield stripe.

The Concern: Handling live NFL pressure. Although Stevens impressed during spring OTAs, he has yet to kick in an NFL game. It’s one thing to be an established scholarship player for a collegiate program; it’s another to operate in the NFL where you can be replaced week to week. Can Stevens kick consistently at the pro level, and can he keep his mental sharpness tight when he hits an inevitable rut? The only way to know for sure is how he responds under live fire.

With an incredibly difficult schedule that includes the NFC West, Washington cannot afford empty possessions inside the opponent's 40-yard line—every drive needs to yield points. The hope is that Washington’s defense will keep games close, allowing Jayden Daniels and the offense to do just enough to win. Every point matters. It always does.

If Moody wins: Washington chooses proven NFL  experience and baseline consistency over raw leg strength.

If Stevens wins: The Commanders secure a young, dynamic leg with legitimate 60-yard capability, solving their special teams puzzle on a cost-controlled contract.

Placekicker isn't the most glamorous position battle in Ashburn, but after the Matt Gay contract misstep, it carries massive importance. With Dan Quinn promising an open, earn-it competition all summer, Jake Moody’s veteran poise and Drew Stevens’ big leg will be put to the test. The battle begins July 28th.

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