Jake Moody - Commanders PK
The Washington Commanders' kicking competition is easily one of the most fascinating of training camp. Veteran Jake Moody and undrafted rookie Drew Stevens are fighting it out to be the No. 1 option, and the battle is expected to go right through the preseason before a victor is crowned.
Stevens has a lot of intrigue around his long-term outlook. But on Day 4 of training camp, it was Moody who got the upper hand.
According to reports, the Commanders ran situations that put kickers on the field quickly, with little time for preparation. This is more typical of in-game situations, and it brought a positive response from Moody. He went 9-for-9 during practice, while Stevens missed two of his attempts.
This doesn't mean all that much in the grand scheme of things. At the same time, it's another example of Moody refusing to go away quietly as hype builds around the first-year pro out of Iowa.
Anything the Commanders throw at Moody won't be new to him. He's got the experience edge, and even though he doesn't have the same leg strength as Stevens, getting the football through the uprights is all that matters.
There is a long way to go, and there will be more twists to come, but Moody remains the tentative frontrunner to secure the job.
Van Jefferson Jr. - Commanders WR
There are concerns about the wide receiver position behind Terry McLaurin. Speculation around a potential move for free-agent veteran Stefon Diggs is gaining significant traction, but Adam Peters is eager to give those currently around a chance to impress before deciding on further action.
It was a better day for the pass-catchers overall on Day 4 with fans in attendance. Van Jefferson was among the standouts, with the experienced wideouts coming up with several impressive catches throughout the session.
The wide receivers were always going to look a little better as the Commanders ran more than just red-zone situations. Making the roster remains the primary goal for Jefferson, but unless Washington brings in Diggs or another dependable weapon, he's got a good chance of achieving this objective.
Jefferson is a curious case. He looked well on course for a highly productive NFL journey during the early stages of his career with the Los Angeles Rams, but things tailed off dramatically. The Tennessee Titans also tasked him with too much last season, continuing his downward trend.
It's still early days, but things are looking up for Jefferson. If he keeps up this sort of consistency, the Commanders will have no choice but to take him through onto their 53-man roster.
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