The Washington Commanders have seemingly been in search of a long-term solution at kicker as long as they searched for a franchise quarterback. Fortunately, the Commanders now have their franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels.

Washington has had some solid kickers over the years. Dustin Hopkins and Graham Gano are names that come to mind before the team gave up on them. Gano served as Washington’s kicker for three years, while Hopkins served as the primary kicker for parts of seven seasons before Ron Rivera abruptly cut him during the season in 2021.

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Since that time, the Commanders have had several kickers. Joey Slye was solid before the new regime moved on from him to sign veteran Brandon McManus. He was released before the first game due to a previous off-field concern. Washington used four kickers in 2024 and three kickers last season.

The Commanders re-signed Jake Moody to a one-year deal this offseason. A former third-round pick, Moody has the potential to be the long-term solution. But he hasn’t earned it yet. Washington should and will push him in training camp.

Perhaps it’s time for the Commanders to address the position in the 2026 NFL Draft.

What about University of Texas at San Antonio kicker Jaffer Murphy? Murphy is a 6-foot-1 kicker who spent last season as UTSA’s kickoff specialist. Before that, Murphy had only recently transitioned to football as a kicker at Division II Lake Erie College. Previously, Murphy played soccer at both Drake and Florida Gulf Coast. During one season as a kicker at Lake Erie, Murphy made 13 of 21 field goal attempts and all 17 extra-point attempts. He made a 60-yarder, displaying his immense leg strength.

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While he didn’t serve as the placekicker for UTSA, he thrived in his role as a kickoff specialist, finishing with 54 touchbacks.

So why would the Commanders pursue a kicker who didn’t even serve as his team’s placekicker last season?

Last week, UTSA held its pro day, and Murphy put on a show. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and made 12 of his 13 field goal attempts, including one from 70 yards.

Whether it’s using a seventh-round pick on Murphy or spending big money on him as an undrafted free agent, Washington should take a chance on Murphy in an attempt to find its own version of Brandon Aubrey.

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Aubrey, the star kicker for the Dallas Cowboys, was an All-American soccer player at Notre Dame and played in the MLS before transitioning to football in the USFL in 2022. After two seasons in the USFL, the Cowboys signed Aubrey in 2023, and the rest is history. He’s now the NFL’s most dangerous kicker.

What would Washington lose by either using a late-round pick on Murphy or signing him as a UDFA? That sounds like a risk worth taking. Sure, landing another Aubrey is much easier said than done. It’s almost like how teams tried to convert former basketball players into tight ends in an effort to find the next Antonio Gates. Still, Aubrey isn’t the only former college soccer player now standing out as an NFL kicker. Jake Bates of the Detroit Lions has made 84% of his field goals in his first two NFL seasons.

As the great Wayne Gretzky once said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

It’s time for the Commanders to be bold as they look to find a long-term solution at kicker.

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This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders should draft UTSA K Jaffer Murphy in NFL draft