Who Will Replace Brandon McManus? Top 6 Players Commanders Could Target After Releasing Kicker Amid Serious Allegations

Brandon McManus is out of the Washington Commanders before even playing a single game. Within a few months of signing the one-year deal, allegations of sexual assault emerged against the kicker. He was accused of misbehaving with two flight attendants last year during his time with the Jaguars.

While McManus and his team denied the reports, the Commanders had expressed their intentions of investigating the matter and said that they were taking the matter “very seriously.” Now, with their only kicker’s departure, what are the options open to the franchise in the free agency?

Six potential kicker options for the Commanders

Last year, the Commanders had an able kicker in Joey Slye, who set the franchise record for the highest field goal at 61 yards. After he left in free agency, former Jaguars player McManus was brought in. Now, the franchise stands with its kicker position empty ahead of the upcoming season with McManus’ departure. However, there are some enticing options available.

1. Jake Bates
First off, there’s the UFL star from Michigan Panthers, who’s been getting attention lately because of his 64-yard field goal. Post his season, there’s a chance that he might be available for picking by the Commanders.

2. Joey Slye
Then there’s, of course, their previous kicker, Slye. Currently a free agent, he has signed a one-year contract with the New England Patriots. He has already established himself with the franchise and has had some good seasons in the past and can prove to be a good replacment for McManus.

3. Randy Bullock
The veteran free agent Bullock, while past his peak, still is a good option with his experience with teams like the Texans, Steelers, and the Jets.

4. Lucas Havrisik
Another free agent up on the market is Havrisik. Although the kicker didn’t have an impressive season last year with the Rams and is currently signed to the Cleveland Browns.

5. Andre Szmyt
UFL has another budding star in the making in Szmyt. He succeeded in 17 out of 19 attempts with the St. Louis Battlehawks.

6. Cade York
Finally, we have the Browns’ fourth-round pick of the 2022 draft; York became the highest-drafted player at the position since 2016. After suffering an injury last season, the kicker was placed on injury reserve by the Browns and eventually hit free agency.

How Brandon McManus got himself into controversy

The 32-year-old kicker was slammed with a lawsuit last month by two women on grounds of sexual assault. The women, identified as Jane Doe I and II, detailed the alleged inappropriate behavior by Brandon McManus during an overseas London flight in Sep 2023, as per the court documents via ESPN. The Jacksonville Jaguars were also named in the lawsuit for failure to “create a safe environment for staff serving the team” and “supervise” the kicker.

The women describe the flight as having “quickly turned into a party” as the kicker, along with some other players, neglected and overstepped the air safety laws. McManus was allegedly ground against the two attendants and also tried to kiss Doe I. The lawsuit filed in the Duval County Circuit Civil Court seeks an excess of $1 million, while McManus’ team has denied the allegations, calling them “fictitious” and “false.” The Commanders announced their decision to part ways with their only kicker on Monday through X.

As Brandon McManus exits the Washington Commanders on the basis of gross allegations, the franchise would be scouring for a new kicker. Only time will tell whether they choose to pick a veteran from the free agency or turn toward the UFL.