The Washington Commanders closed out their 2025 season with a dramatic late win over the Philadelphia Eagles, finishing 5-12 in a campaign that everybody can now just be glad is over.
It wasn't the perfect game for Washington by any means, which was to be expected in a battle of the backups. Josh Johnson turned the ball over twice. The Commanders were also addicted to false start penalties, especially at the goal line.
However, the biggest mistake came in the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. It exposed an issue that must be solved during an offseason that's sure to feature no shortage of significant changes.
Commanders need a rethink at the kicking position, and they need a long-term option
Veteran kicker Jake Moody redeemed himself later on by nailing a 56-yarder at the end of the first half, but his missed 24-yard chip shot early on was an eyesore. The Commanders' inconsistency at the position has been a problem for years now, and this offseason will be a great time to resolve it.
The skill level of NFL kickers has never been greater than it is right now. In this day and age, there's no excuse not to have someone who can drill 50-yarders regularly and be trusted to at least attempt field goals from 60-plus. The Commanders need to find that guy, and it's not Moody.
In all likelihood, it's not anyone currently in the NFL.
For the past several years, Washington has taken the approach of scooping up kickers whom other teams have cut. Before Moody, it was big-money signing Matt Gay. Before him, it was Austin Seibert and Zane Gonzalez. Before them, it was a few years of Joey Slye.
Washington hasn't had a young, long-term investment at kicker since Dustin Hopkins, who himself often left more to be desired on the field. The Commanders need to take that route again, by scooping up someone fresh out of college as an undrafted rookie this offseason. There's never any shortage to choose from.
Moody has done enough to earn an invite at least back to training camp, but the Commanders must give him competition. They'd also better hope he doesn't win it.
He's a roller coaster. Until he proves otherwise for a sustained stretch, you can't trust Moody not to cost you dearly at the worst moment.
The Commanders will enter the 2026 season with a roster full of new faces. One of those needs to be at the kicker position.