Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Commanders' camp MVP is staring them in the face (but it's not who you think)

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Michael Haney | Last updated Aug 7, 2025 9:00 AM ET

Nobody cares about kickers until they have to. The Washington Commanders learned this lesson the hard way last season, aside from a memorable (and brief) run from Austin Seibert. Key misses cost them a win against the Dallas Cowboys and almost cost them a playoff game against the Detroit Lions.

Kickers are rarely the center of attention in training camp. But Matt Gay is bringing enough stability to Washington's special teams unit to warrant some recognition.

Right after the 2025 NFL Draft, the Commanders made a move that hardly anybody took notice of. They released Zane Gonzalez and signed Gay. They also gave him the most guaranteed money on any one-year deal for a kicker in NFL history.

Matt Gay is quietly the MVP of Commanders' training camp

Gay has bounced around the league over the last six years. He was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. Since then, he's played for the Buccaneers, the Los Angeles Rams, and the Indianapolis Colts.

He had a rough start to his career, but he's been stellar in recent years. Over the last four seasons, Gay has hit over 85 percent of his field goals and has only missed three extra points. By comparison, Gonzalez made just over 70% of his field goal attempts for the Commanders in 2024.

Gay steps in as the immediate starting kicker for the Commanders. He hasn't been in the headlines since signing with the team, but that's exactly what you want from your kicker.

Those who have been paying attention to the Commanders during training camp have noted Gay's consistency. Reporter Grant Paulsen said that he has been "nearly automatic all camp."

For a team seeking to make a Super Bowl run, having a reliable kicker is an absolute necessity. The margins are razor-thin in the playoffs, where one missed field goal could end a team's season. The Commanders can't afford to enter the 2025 campaign with a shaky kicker.

Gay hasn't been the only player to impress onlookers at training camp. Mike Sainristil, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, and others have been training camp winners. Those players will get most of the attention coming out of camp, and rightfully so. They could play pivotal roles in the Commanders' in 2025.

But Gay could end up being one of the team's most important additions of the offseason. The veteran might not garner much attention now, but when he hits a game-winning field goal in December or January, fans will be glad to have him around.