The Washington Commanders' 2026 preseason slate will begin when they take on the Miami Dolphins. And for undrafted rookie kicker Drew Stevens, it's a chance to put the exclamation point on his impressive summer.
For most of the starters on offense and defense, fans should expect limited, if any, reps in the first of three exhibition matchups for head coach Dan Quinn's squad. But on special teams, it's a different story.
While most of the attention when it comes to Washington's rookies has been on linebacker Sonny Styles and wide receiver Antonio Williams, we can't forget about Stevens, who has been competing with incumbent veteran Jake Moody throughout Washington's offseason program and into training camp.
Drew Stevens can distance himself from Jake Moody during Commanders' preseason slate
The job is Stevens' to lose. And during his preseason debut under the lights at Northwest Stadium, he could put the final nail in the coffin.
By all indications, Stevens has outperformed Moody throughout training camp. If the Commanders know what's good for them, this is an easy decision.
Stevens did struggle on Monday, missing three consecutive kicks at one point, but Moody missed four in a row that same day. Both kickers then bounced back by going 6-for-6 on Wednesday. The Iowa product seems to have a stronger leg, in addition to his advantage in accuracy. He's also got far more long-term upside.
Kicking update after 9 practices open to the media.
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) August 11, 2026
Drew Stevens: 37/42.
Jake Moody is 30/41.
1) Stevens has missed two kicks from 50+ and three from inside 50.
2) Moody has missed 11 kicks over his last four practices. He’s 16 for his last 27.
We'll see how Washington decides to manage the kicking competition throughout the preseason, but both players will likely have opportunities. And this is where Stevens can distance himself for good.
For all the mistakes the Commanders made last year in constructing their roster, one of the most overlooked was that they did not bring in any competition for Matt Gay, even as he struggled throughout camp and the preseason. Their kicking woes cost them dearly in multiple games, most notably against the Dolphins in Madrid.
General manager Adam Peters has corrected course this offseason, doing what should have been done a long time ago.
He found a fresh, young rookie in Stevens who can be Washington's long-term solution at the position. The value of a trustworthy kicker cannot be understated, and that's what the Commanders are hoping they have.
Still, Stevens needs to prove he's their guy by coming through during live game action. These next few weeks will be his chance to do exactly that, and it starts tonight.
If all goes well for Stevens, the Commanders will know who their kicker is when the clock hits zero.
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