The Washington Commanders' kicking competition may have come to a premature end, less than a month into training camp. The team had former San Francisco 49ers third round pick Jake Moody and 2026 undrafted free agent Drew Stevens compete for the position coming into camp. However, it seems that the Commanders have made a decision who they will go with moving forward, as it was announced on Monday that the team have cut Moody, per Jordan Schultz.
"Sources: The Commanders are releasing K Jake Moody. The 26-year-old went 19/23 on FGs last season, including 10/11 in Washington. He also made both of his 50+ yard attempts, with a long of 56 yards." Schultz posted on X.
Both players showed out similarly in the team's first and only preseason game so far this year. The pair went 100% on field goals, scoring one each; Moody's being from 29 yards and Stevens' being from 41. They both also scored one extra point each.
The implication can thus really only be that Stevens showed enough during practice that the team feels comfortable jettisoning one of their two options well ahead of the final roster submission deadline on Aug. 30. For Moody this is yet another unsanctimonious chapter in what has been a difficult career in the NFL since being the highest-drafted kicker since Roberto Aguayo, who was selected in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, back in 2023. Moody struggled mightily in his first two years in the league with the 49ers, drawing considerable fan ire, before getting cut in September 2025.
The former Michigan man actually had some sort of career renaissance later on in the year after landing with the Commanders, converting 10/11 on fields goals and 10/11 on PATs, so it was expected that Moody at the very least would have the upper hand in the kicking competition heading into the 2026 season. Yet, Stevens and the coaching staff had other plans – and it appears the team will move forward with their rookie kicker.
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