The Washington Commanders are gearing up for their organized team activities in the coming days. This is just a small step in the process, but it's also a chance for players to stake an early claim for roster spots and important roles.
And for an undrafted riser, there is an opportunity to make one critical summer position battle real.
The Commanders haven't had stability at the kicking position for years. General manager Adam Peters hasn't found the right answer as yet, but he is still swinging. Most moves haven't paid off, and his high-priced experiment on Matt Gay last year didn't even last a full season.
Commanders' kicking competition battle will be important over the summer
Jake Moody came in off the Chicago Bears' practice squad. He was solid enough for the most part. However, a poor end to the campaign saw some sections of the fan base clamor for a more viable solution. That might still be the case, but Peters gave the former Ohio State star a chance to cement his status with another one-year deal.
He'll have to earn it. Drew Stevens is also around, and he'll be striving with everything he has to flip the narrative in pursuit of securing the top spot in Week 1.
Stevens was given an invite to Washington's rookie minicamp. That quickly changed to an undrafted rookie contract amid interest from elsewhere. The Commanders didn't want to lose him, and the Iowa product saw this environment as the best to possibly get a shot.
Moody is the favorite right now. He's got experience on his side and will fancy his chances of seeing off Stevens with a full offseason to hone his craft. The incoming rookie will not be giving up without a fight, and his booming leg is something the veteran doesn't boast.
This is all part of Peters' offseason plan. Complacency crept into the Commanders' last summer. The vibes were off, and this carried through into the regular season. Beat writers saw it, and the front office leader did, too. His objective was to raise urgency and competition across the board. The kicking battle is just a small part of that.
But it is significant all the same.
Having a dependable kicker can be the difference between winning and losing. The margins are fine in the NFL pressure cooker. Moody has found that out to his cost on several occasions. Stevens is a wildcard, but the four-time All-Big Ten selection is ambitious and hungry to make his presence felt.
And OTAs are just the first round.
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