Adam Peters doubles down on risky Commanders' approach fans aren't buying

"After watching the Dallas Cowboys erase a 21-point deficit for a walk-off win over the Philadelphia Eagles, the first thought that crossed my mind was: It must be nice to have a competent kicker you can trust. Of all the missteps in a year that has gone nothing like planned for the Washington Commanders, the search for a dependable kicker stands out as Adam Peters' most significant failure."

"It looked like Austin Seibert was the answer, but after his injury, he was never the same. He ultimately retired from the league earlier this year. Zane Gonzalez ended last season as the Commanders' starter, going 5-for-7 in the regular season and 7-for-8 in the playoffs, including the memorable doink to the divisional game. Despite Gonzalez's success, Peters decided to cut him and sign Gay, who received $4.25 million in guaranteed money. That was the most ever for a kicker on a one-year contract."

"Ironically, Spencer Shrader, who replaced Gay for the Colts, hit 92.9 percent of his field goals before suffering a season-ending injury. His replacement, Michael Badgley, has connected on 90% of his field goals. Meanwhile, Gay only hit 68.4% of his attempts before being cut. To add insult to injury, Gonzalez signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this month. He has been a perfect 6-for-6 on field goals, including hitting from 52, 54, and 56 yards. Gay went 4-for-9 beyond 50 yards."

Since Adam Peters became general manager in 2024, the Washington Commanders have cycled through nine kickers, failing to find a dependable option. Austin Seibert suffered an injury and later retired. Zane Gonzalez produced strong results (5-for-7 regular season, 7-for-8 playoffs) but was cut in favor of Matt Gay, who received $4.25 million guaranteed on a one-year contract. Gay converted 68.4% of attempts and struggled from 50+ yards. Spencer Shrader excelled with the Colts before injury, and Michael Badgley is hitting 90% for his team. Gonzalez has since been perfect with the Falcons, exposing Washington's decision-making.

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