Commanders Training Camp & Preseason Could Become A Tale Of 2 Kickers - Daily Slop

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Washington Commanders’ Kicker Competition Adds Intrigue in 2026

Jake Moody has had questions to answer in the NFL after ending his time in San Francisco making just 23 of his 37 attempts beyond 40 yards, along with a 74.2% scoring rate during his three seasons. Yet his time in Washington ended on a much different note after drilling all but one of his 11 attempts with his lone miss coming on a 24-yard attempt in the season finale vs. Philadelphia.

It made sense why Stevens materialized into an undrafted free agent with interest around the league given he ended his career with the Hawkeyes with the program record for field goals made (76), 50-plus yard field goals (12) along with second in career points (352). Stevens also drilled a 58-yard field goal in the narrow loss vs. ninth-ranked Oregon in early November to showcase his power, a trait that Izzo admitted was “one thing we liked about him,” but he also has questions to answer at the NFL level.

While he was efficient inside 40 yards after making all but three of his 47 career attempts, Stevens made just two-thirds of his attempts beyond that distance, including 20-of-28 over his final two seasons.

While Moody and Stevens have been able to practice on a handful of attempts to close practices during OTAs, it’s marked a chance for Stevens to flash his power to local media after noting in week one he’s comfortable from 60 to 65 yards away in a dome setting. Yet with a chance for Stevens to prove his accuracy and Moody to prove the consistency he flashed in his short stint in 2025, Izzo knows what he’s looking for from his two kickers ahead of 2026.

“Their consistency, their accuracy, their makes. Are they shaving it close every time or are they hitting it more in the middle? But at the end of the day, it’s about making the kicks and that’s going to be the number one factor in who’s going to be here.”

Bullock’s Film Room (subscription)

Camp Battle: Brandon Coleman vs Chris Paul at LG

Had Paul left, Coleman would have likely had the best chance of starting at left guard, but with Paul back, it’s expected to be an open competition between the two of them for that job. So who has the upper hand in the competition? Let’s take a closer look.

In the run game, both Paul and Coleman have plenty to offer and can perform at fairly similar levels. I’d maybe give the edge to Coleman but it’s not hugely dissimilar in terms of overall level. What does matter is their fit within David Blough’s new offense. Stylistically, they’re different run blockers with different strengths and weaknesses.

Paul is a big, powerful human being that can maul people in the run game. He’s listed at 324 pounds because that’s what he weighed during the pre-draft process, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he plays at closer to 350 pounds. His size and power is an asset for him in the run game, especially on gap scheme runs.

For a man of his size, Paul moves fairly well too. He’s not an athletic freak that can reach blocks other people can’t, but when asked to pull, he can move smoothly and still generate power in his blocks.

This is where Coleman might have the advantage over him. We’re anticipating the Commanders to shift more towards zone run schemes this year as opposed to the more gap scheme runs we saw from them last year. Brandon Coleman is a more fluid athlete than Paul, which makes him a potentially better fit for that scheme.

Commanders.com

3 things to watch during Commanders minicamp

Continued cohesion within the new offense.

The Commanders’ offensive players have been focused on learning new play caller David Blough’s system for the past few weeks. There is some carryover from the scheme they ran under Kliff Kingsbury in the previous two seasons, but most of it is new material, at least partially derived from what Ben Johnson has used during his time with the Detroit Lions and now as the Chicago Bears’ head coach.

The changes are significant shifts in how the Commanders have run their offense, from calling plays in the huddle to the quarterback lining up under center more often. It hasn’t been a perfect transition, but Jayden Daniels and the rest of the offense looked sharp during OTA practices. Plays have been called efficiently in huddles, and there have rarely been any procedural mistakes before the snap. The scheme has been well-received by the players, with many saying that it gives them more options during plays and highlights versatility in the different plays they can run in the same formation.

Much of this progress can be credited to Daniels, who looks to be back in form after an injury-riddled 2025 campaign. He’s taken lining up under center in stride, but he’s also delivered accurate throws and shown impressive arm strength. He appears to already have a firm grasp of Blough’s offense, as many of his teammates have praised him for his attention to detail and study habits. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane said Daniels has been so impressive that it almost feels like Daniels is one of the original architects of the system.

The Commanders are still far from their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the coaches are encouraged by what they have seen from the offense. Another solid week of practice could provide a boost of confidence for the team when it regroups for camp after the dead period.

Commanders.com

Commanders have confidence in ‘loaded’ RB room

Although the Commanders often found themselves in double-digit deficits last season, their running backs still put up numbers that placed the group among the best in the league. They finished fourth in yards per game, eighth in rushing first downs per game and tied for third in yards per rush. It wasn’t enough to keep the injury-riddled roster afloat, but it was a clear sign that at least part of the team’s identity remained intact.

This year’s running back room has been significantly reworked from a year ago. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols are still around, but Austin Ekeler and Chris Rodriguez Jr. have been replaced by Rachaad White, draft pick Kaytron Allen and veteran Jerome Ford. Despite the changes, expectations remain high for Washington’s running backs; if anything, the coaches are looking for more from the group in David Blough’s new offense.

[T]here’s a history of the position performing well in the scheme Washington plans to use, which will borrow several concepts from the offense Ben Johnson used during his two seasons coaching Blough with the Detroit Lions and is currently implementing as the Chicago Bears’ head coach. The Bears ranked third in yards per attempt, with the duo of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai combining for 1,870 yards and 14 touchdowns.

From Riggo’s Rag:

There is no more fascinating battle brewing than at the running back position. It’s got everyone’s attention early on, and Anthony Lynn is no closer to determining who the alpha dog is.

Though the running backs coach is excited to see how things unfold, he doesn’t think anyone is pulling ahead of the pack right now.

“Right now, I can’t tell you there’s one clear-cut starter. I can’t. I think, but we’ll see.”

That might be coach-speak, especially at a relatively early stage of Washington’s preparations. The Commanders are not going to crown anyone yet, but it’s a sign they want to take a good look at everyone before trimming the fat.

Last Man Standig (paywall)

Mandatory minicamp is here: What matters most over Washington’s next three days

[O]f course, there is the kicker battle.

Veteran Jake Moody and UDFA Drew Stevens are competing for one job, and every made — or missed — kick this summer will be scrutinized.

The winner won’t officially be determined this week, but the evaluation is already underway.

For more from Ben Standig, click here

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Big Blue View

Are the Giants a real challenger to the Eagles in the NFC East?

Jeff Warren of The Philadelphia Sports Table joined the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast to discuss the Eagles’ offseason.

“I think with their offseason, some of their acquisitions, whether it’s in free agency or even in the draft, I think they’re putting themselves in a good position to be more relevant in the future within the NFC East division.”

Warren credited John Harbaugh for that.

“You want a relevant coach. You want a relevant leader,” Warren said. “You want relevancy within the division, and that’s what he has brought in terms of the head coaching position. So the New York Giants are absolutely on their way to that relevancy.”

Addition by subtraction?

Did the recent trade of star wide receiver A.J. Brown to the New England Patriots make the Eagles worse, or was it addition by subtraction?

Warren said removing the unhappy Brown will be addition by subtraction.

“Thank goodness the situation is just done,” Warren said. “It’s over with. It was exhausting. Probably like certain offseason situations in Giants Nation, too. You’re glad that certain things are over, not talked about really anymore. We’re like that with A.J. Brown.

“The AJ Brown saga now that it’s over, you have a certain level of discord that’s not going to be there anymore. So, at the end of the day, I think it is addition by subtraction.”

The Eagles were the 2024 Super Bowl champs, and have won back-to-back NFC East titles. Could there be regression in 2026?

“I think we’re all feeling it in Eagles Nation. Not necessarily talking about it all the time, but there’s a little bit of trepidation that the Giants this offseason had a really good offseason. We know what the Commanders were just a couple seasons ago. Can they get back to that? And of course, the Dallas Cowboys have a really good quarterback in Dak Prescott. They do. They just do, at least during the regular season. And what are they going to be able to do in terms of pushing forward this coming season? So, yeah, maybe things are closing in a little bit here with all four teams. It’s going to be interesting to watch.”

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ESPN

Brendan Sorsby to the NFL supplemental draft: What to know

In a surprising twist, Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby now intends to enter the NFL supplemental draft ahead of the 2026 season, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Sorsby admitted to placing bets on a variety of sports and completed in-patient rehab for a gambling addiction. The NCAA denied his request for reinstatement in May, but a Texas judge granted him a temporary injunction in early June, making him eligible for the 2026 college football season. But amid a Big 12 lawsuit against Texas Tech and backlash around his eligibility, Sorsby ultimately opted to head to the NFL.

The NFL hasn’t had a supplemental draft since 2023, and no one has been selected in one since 2019, when the Cardinals picked safety Jalen Thompson with a fifth-round bid. The last quarterback to enter the supplemental draft was Terrelle Pryor, who was a third-round bid in 2011 for the Raiders. The league still needs to approve Sorsby’s application for there to be a 2026 supplemental draft, which would take place sometime later this summer.

How does the supplemental draft work? What does it mean for Sorsby’s eventual contract?

Dan Graziano, national NFL reporter: The NFL holds a weighted lottery to determine the order of the supplemental draft. So for example, the Raiders (who had the first pick in the April draft) would get 32 hypothetical ping-pong balls, while the Seahawks (who had the 32nd pick) would get one. They actually break it down into three separate lotteries — one to determine the order among all the teams that won six or fewer games last season, a second to determine the order among teams that won more than six but didn’t make the playoffs and a third to determine the order among the playoff teams.

Once that order is established, teams submit “bids” on players in whom they’re interested. If, say, the Steelers wanted Sorsby and decided he was worth a third-round pick, they would submit a third-round bid. If no one submitted a first- or second-round bid, and the Steelers were the only third-round bid, they would get him. If there were multiple third-round bids, he would go to the team that finished highest in the lottery order among those teams. In the same example, if the Steelers and Jets both submit third-round bids, the Jets would get him because they would have the higher “pick” in the third round. To be clear, no team has to submit any bids, and if no team does, Sorsby would become an undrafted free agent, free to sign anywhere.

The team that is awarded the player forfeits its pick in the equivalent round of next year’s draft. If the Steelers bid a third-round pick on Sorsby and get him, they would give up their third-round pick in the 2027 real draft. Importantly, a team cannot submit a specific-round bid on a player if it does not have a pick in that round next year. The Giants, for instance, can’t submit a fourth-round bid on Sorsby because they do not currently have a fourth-round pick in 2027.

Jeremy Fowler, national NFL reporter: Sorsby would enter the draft with sizable value to teams. Several execs I spoke with over the past few weeks agree that he’s worth a second-round pick in the supplemental draft. One AFC executive predicted Sorsby would have been a late-first-rounder if he were available in April’s traditional draft — but the last supplemental draft to garner a first-rounder was 1992 (quarterback Dave Brown).

Matt Miller, NFL draft analyst: In conversations with scouts before the NFL’s mid-January deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2026 draft, many believed Sorsby would have been a high Round 1 pick. He would not have been drafted ahead of eventual No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, but in what was seen as a weak class at the position, he would have been ranked ahead of Ty Simpson — the QB2 and eventual No. 13 pick — on most boards.

Which NFL teams should be interested?

Ben Solak, NFL analyst: Eight come to mind. The Cardinals are the most obvious choice, as they don’t have an exciting starting option on their roster.

Pro Football Talk

Texas Tech will not attempt to recover NIL money paid to Brendan Sorsby

For its part, Texas Tech will not seek reimbursement of NIL payments already made to Sorsby.

That information appears in a lengthy, single-spaced, self-serving (frankly) statement from billionaire Cody Campbell, the chairman of the Board of Regents of the Texas Tech University System.

Campbell also describes Sorsby’s decision to drop his lawsuit against the NCAA and enter the NFL supplemental draft as “purely an output of practical analysis of the situation.”

Sorsby’s story now shifts to the NFL, and its supplemental draft. There, the most important questions will be: (1) will the NFL grant his application for the supplemental draft; (2) will the NFL suspend Sorsby for his violation of relevant gambling laws and NCAA gambling rules; and (3) will teams shy away from him because of his gambling addiction and associated diagnoses?

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ESPN

Will Bengals regain contender status? Front office is confident

Every move the Cincinnati Bengals made this offseason was characteristic of a club and front office that feels the team is on the cusp of being a winner again, even if the last few years haven’t felt that way.

Based on Monday’s conversation that ran for just over 30 minutes, the Bengals feel closer to the team that was on the brink of winning the Super Bowl and less like the club that has struggled in recent years.

“Obviously, we feel good about the talent we have,” Blackburn said. “We feel like we have a strong base to work around.

“Does that make you take advantage of that other little piece? Maybe that factors in a little bit, yeah, because you feel like you’re close.”

Lawrence was the move that cemented a rather aggressive offseason for the Bengals. Cincinnati traded the 10th overall pick for the standout defensive tackle, a position that was a major need for a defense that finished 27th in the points allowed per drive last season.

The Athletic (paywall)

Katie Blackburn explains why Bengals stuck with Zac Taylor, Duke Tobin

The Bengals missed the playoffs for three straight seasons with Joe Burrow at quarterback, and in the NFL, that typically means somebody in a powerful position loses their job.

Not in Cincinnati, where the Bengals’ ownership decided to run it back with de facto general manager Duke Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor, as well as the vast majority of their staff.

“We think they deserve another opportunity to prove that we can do what we hope we can do,” executive vice president Katie Blackburn said Monday.

The Bengals are banking on continuity with Tobin and Taylor, who sat next to each other and Brown at Taylor’s introductory news conference in January of 2019.

All three are still here, and even Burrow called this the most talented team he’s been on in the NFL. All the pieces that have been part of previous success and building to this point played a significant role in ending up in this critical season with the same two in charge.

She pointed out that just because the changes weren’t in the form of anyone of significance losing their job, that doesn’t mean all systems are repeating as in the past.

“We are trying to take very measured steps to maximize our chances with known commodities,” Elizabeth Blackburn said. “We think we’ve made changes in certain processes, on the roster, behind the scenes, certain things that can lead to different outcomes. That’s hard sometimes to totally see. But certain change comes with big risk. And we think we’re in a good spot.”

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