Adam Peters has a significant amount of hard work ahead in the coming days. The Washington Commanders have a plethora of free agents to decide upon before the legal tampering window opens. And the first domino has fallen.
Considering how well the Commanders performed in 2024, they are going to be a coveted destination. Assistant general manager Lance Newmark revealed at the NFL Scouting Combine that there's also a need to maintain continuity. They liked a lot of their guys and most made an impressive contribution. That's the sort of thing that tends to get rewarded.
Commanders' Zane Gonzalez extension shouldn't prevent another kicker move in 2025
More extensions are on the way, but kicker Zane Gonzalez was the first. The team confirmed that the former seventh-round pick received a one-year deal worth $1.17 million. This came after some impressive performances during the 2024 campaign when Austin Seibert went out through injury.
This is a big positive for Gonzalez, who's bounced around for the majority of his career. However, that shouldn't stop the Commanders from having a genuine kicker competition when the offseason program commences.
It seemed for a long time as if Seibert would be the long-term starter in Washington. His impact was immediate, breaking the franchise record for successful field goals during a remarkable debut in Week 2 against the New York Giants. He was flawless before getting injured, which dented his progress immediately.
Gonzalez came in and played well. This forced Seibert to come back before he was ready. A disastrous outing against the Dallas Cowboys sent him to season-ending injured reserve and he wasn't seen again.
Perhaps it's worth bringing back Seibert to compete for a starting job. Both kickers did well overall in 2024. Letting them fight it out over training camp in a best-man-win scenario seems feasible. Either way, both will be on the veteran minimum next season, freeing up extra cash to spend elsewhere.
There were a few eyebrows raised among the fanbase when Gonzalez's extension became public knowledge. They feel like the Commanders should be thinking bigger. But at the end of the day, Peters has earned enough trust to inspire confidence with every decision he makes going forward.
Gonzalez has a chance. He's got his foot back in the door but nothing more. Life as a kicker is precarious at best, so he shouldn't expect a free run into the No. 1 spot next season despite his extension.
The hard work is just getting started for Gonzalez. What comes next is down to the player.
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