Jaguars agree to deal with journeyman kicker

The Jaguars and Commanders are set to complete a free agent swap of kickers. Brandon McManus joined Washington on a new deal last week, and Joey Slye will be taking his place in Duval County.

The latter has agreed to a one-year deal with the Jaguars, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Slye spent the past two full seasons with the Commanders, having impressed at the end of the 2021 campaign. His efforts that season landed him a two-year pact worth $4.2M to remain in the nation’s capital. McManus took a one-year deal worth $3.6M to join the Commanders, however, leaving Slye in need of a new opportunity.

The 27-year-old will be playing on his fifth career NFL team provided he wins the kicking gig during the offseason. Slye served as the Panthers’ full-time kicker in 2019 and 2020 before splitting time with three franchises the following season. Slye’s first full campaign in Washington saw him convert 25-of-30 field goal attempts, one of his better showings but a drop-off in accuracy compared to his perfect audition period prior to signing his new deal. In 2023, the former UDFA’s success rate dropped to 79.2 percent (19 of 24 on field goal kicks).

Slye also missed a combined seven extra points across the past two seasons, so it comes as little surprise the Commanders elected to let him depart and moved quickly in adding a replacement. The Virginia Tech product could see competition brought in during the latter waves of free agency or the draft, as was the case with Washington last offseason. The Commanders added Michael Badgley as an alternative option, but he was ultimately released in August after Slye fended him off for the placekicking role.

The latter will join an otherwise-intact kicking battery in Jacksonville. Both punter Logan Cooke and long snapper Ross Matiscik are under contract for 2024 and beyond, so the team will have stability at those positions moving forward. Slye will look to earn a short- and long-term opportunity with the Jaguars this offseason.