Key Commanders veteran is going to get cut any day now after his replacement receives a historical contract from Washington
The Washington Commanders didn't add a kicker during the 2025 NFL Draft, which wasn't a surprise. However, it was a bit surprising when they didn't add one during the undrafted free agent signing period.That's because while Zane Gonzalez did a very good job stabilizing the position in 2024, he leaves something to be desired on […]
The Washington Commanders didn't add a kicker during the 2025 NFL Draft, which wasn't a surprise. However, it was a bit surprising when they didn't add one during the undrafted free agent signing period.
That's because while Zane Gonzalez did a very good job stabilizing the position in 2024, he leaves something to be desired on the field in the form of making big kicks. He made 5-of-7 attempts last year, but finished with a high of 48-yards and missed his lone attempt over 50-yards, which was 52-yards out.
Well, considered it "problem solved" for the most part after the Commanders inked former Super Bowl winner Matt Gay to a one-year deal containing a fully-guaranteed $4.25 million. Per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, it's the highest amount of fully-guaranteed money ever handed out on a one-year deal to the position. Fully-guaranteed is much different from the traditional "guaranteed" label, as the Commanders are 100% on the hook for the cash. If Gay gets cut tomorrow, the Commanders owe him every single penny except for the extra $750k in available incentives.
Washington isn't giving Gay this deal with the idea he'll come in and compete for the job with Gonzalez. It's his to lose and unless something goes horribly wrong, Gonzalez is out the door. It's actually a bit unfair to Gonzalez, who could get cut and go to a situation where he has a much better chance of winning the kicking job. At the same time, the Commanders could still release him as soon as possible, but I'm not sure if they do that considering all the bad luck they had with kickers last year. It makes sense if they want to hold onto Gonzalez as insurance in case something runs afoul with Gay.
The latter scenario doesn't seem likely, however, even if Gay has missed an NFL-high 14 field goal attempts over the last two seasons. That's not ideal, at all, but when diving into the numbers, those misses aren't as bad as they seem.
11 of the 14 misses have come from 50+ yards, which is ironic, yes, because we are talking leg strength/deep accuracy being Gonzalez's weak point. It's objectively true Gay has a stronger leg and the situation eases up a bit when realizing that six of these 11 misses have come from 55+. One of those six attempts was blocked from 60-yards out. Those aren't easy kicks to make, no matter who you are.
Gay is 8-of-13 from 50-54 yards over the last two years, which comes out to a 61.5% rate. The NFL average is 74.7%, so Gay falls below average in this aspect. That's certainly something to consider in all of this and I'm sure the Commanders have noted it. However, they still find him to be worth the move when it's all said and done.
If Gay can get back to his 2020-2022 form where he missed a combined six kicks over three seasons, then the Commanders will have yet another scoring threat that can get them points. And when you add that to what should be an elite offense, it only makes the prospects surrounding the 2025 season more exciting than they already are.
