With kicker Robbie Gould choosing to move on this offseason, the San Francisco 49ers had a glaring hole at the position.
The 49ers decided to draft Gould’s replacement selecting Michigan kick Jake Moody with the 99th overall pick.
Becoming only the second kicker in the last 17 years to be selected in the top 100, he also is only the fifth kicker to be taken in the first three rounds since 2000.
Moody accomplished a lot during his college career, including winning the Lou Groza award and being an All-American in 2021. He will immediately have one of the stronger legs in the NFL.
With no picks in the fourth round, the 49ers knew that Moody wouldn’t last to their pick in the fifth round, so they went ahead and took someone who would be a Day 1 starter.
The selection received mixed reviews, but it’s hard to question what the 49ers have done building their rosters given their recent success.
Even head coach Kyle Shanahan had a little fun with the selection, per insider Michael Silver. Shanahan received texts from his friends making fun of him for taking a kick in the third round. When suggested he would do the same to, Shanahan replied, “Damn right I would have.”
With six picks left in the draft for the 49ers, they will look to find more late-round gems as they try to make it to the NFC Championship Game for the fourth time in the past five years.
