There is no more important position battle right now than kicker. The Washington Commanders have failed to find the right solution at this critical spot for years, and with so much at stake next season, this has to change.
The coaching staff is currently evaluating a legitimate competition between two players. One is a battle-hardened veteran, a little down on his luck. The other is an intriguing rookie looking to leave his mark.
And a frontrunner may be emerging.
Drew Stevens turned up the heat on Jake Moody at Commanders minicamp Day 1
Those in attendance for the first day of Washington's mandatory minicamp had a close eye on Jake Moody and Drew Stevens. They are competing for the starting job right now, and head coach Dan Quinn said this will likely continue through the summer. The pair are jostling for position at the moment, but it was the rookie who stood out more than the established pro on Day 1.
Moody went 4-for-6 on his field goal efforts, missing from 38 and 48 yards. Stevens fared much better. He drilled all six of his attempts, displaying the consistency that the Commanders have witnessed from the moment he got into the building.
If this were a heavyweight fight, we'd still be in the early rounds.
Challenges will get steeper over the summer, and it would be wise to get Stevens involved in a game-day environment over the preseason to see how he fares. Moody did enough for another one-year deal, but he'll know by now that the heat is well and truly on.
The Commanders clearly thought a lot of Stevens, changing their rookie minicamp invite into a formal contract when interest from elsewhere emerged. They thought he could push Moody hard for the No. 1 spot, and they were right. Extra competition is bringing more from the Ohio State product, but the gap may be tightening.
Nobody should be getting carried away, for now at least.
The life of a kicker — or in this case, kickers — is extremely precarious. Fortunes can swing drastically in the blink of an eye. Washington will examine a full offseason of work rather than take any more drastic measures. But those who dismissed Stevens' capabilities are already looking foolish.
Washington's carousel of failed veteran kickers over the past few years has been deeply frustrating. Fans have been clamoring for general manager Adam Peters to take a chance on someone from the college ranks, and he's finally done just that.
And based on initial indications, Stevens is already repaying this faith, and Moody is firmly on notice.
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