The Washington Commanders have spent years searching for stability at kicker. Undrafted rookie Drew Stevens is proving he could be the answer Washington has been waiting for.
A kicker competition is underway at Washington Commanders training camp between veteran Jake Moody and undrafted rookie Drew Stevens. The battle has been pretty even between the two throughout camp, but as of Tuesday's practice, Stevens has taken the lead.
On Tuesday, Stevens made all three field goals in an 11v11 session and all five in the field goal session. Moody missed three total, two in the field goal session and wide right on one during an 11v11 session.
It marked a slightly off day for Moody, who was re-signed earlier this offseason ahead of the battle brewing, but it also highlighted what Washington needs to see differently in 2026.
What's the big deal? Washington's inconsistency from its veteran kickers is the big deal. Matt Gay, Zane Gonzalez and Austin Seibert all had opportunities to seize the job, but none became the long-term answer. Go back even further, and the same story appears with Joey Slye, Dustin Hopkins, and Graham Gano, kickers who showed flashes but ultimately couldn't provide the consistency Washington needed.
In Washington, Gay went 13-of-19 on field goals and 4-of-9 from 50-plus yards. The former Pro-Bowler couldn't provide the stability the team needed. Gonzalez became a fan favorite after hitting the game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2025 Wild Card round; however, he also struggled to provide consistency throughout the regular season. In six games with the Commanders, he went 5-of-7 on field goals, including 0-of-1 from 50-plus yards. Gonzalez was ultimately released in April 2025 after Washington signed Gay. Seibert was actually one of the Commanders' most reliable kickers during the 2024 season before injuries derailed his year. He started strong, making 27-of-30 field goals, but Washington ultimately moved on after he missed time late in the season because of injury.
Slye brought one of the strongest legs the Burgundy and Gold had seen in years, including a franchise-record 61-yard field goal in 2023. However, consistency remained an issue. After converting every field goal attempt through his first six games in 2021, Slye missed 10 field goals and seven extra points over the next two seasons. Hopkins was Washington's longest-tenured kicker of this group, but developed a reputation among fans for inconsistency, including some high-profile misses, such as his missed game-winning field goal against the Cincinnati Bengals in London in 2016. Gano also possessed one of the strongest legs the Burgundy and Gold had seen, but made just 59-of-80 field goals during his Washington tenure.
Year after year, rinse and repeat: the same veteran kicker woes. That's why the Commanders need to give rookie kicker Drew Stevens a shot. Why not? He's been automatic throughout camp, has the leg strength to handle the demands of the NFL, and could provide Washington with a fresh start at the position.
During his Iowa career, he made 76-of-95 field goals, including a school-record 12 kicks from 50-plus yards. His 58-yard field goal against Oregon in 2025 tied an Iowa and Kinnick Stadium record, showcasing the type of leg strength and accuracy Washington has been searching for.
The last time the Burgundy and Gold had an undrafted rookie kicker take the field was none other than Nick Novak. Washington signed him during the 2005 season after starting kicker John Hall suffered a quadriceps injury. Novak made his mark quickly, kicking the game-winning extra point in Washington's 14-13 comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football. He delivered again, hitting a game-winning field goal against the Seattle Seahawks to help Washington start the season 3-0.
The next test comes next week against the Miami Dolphins in the Commanders' preseason opener. With the bright lights on and game reps available, the battle between Jake Moody and Drew Stevens will begin to separate itself.
