The San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick on a kicker

I assume in case you’re the San Francisco 49ers and also you’re set at most positions, you’ll be able to afford to take a kicker within the third spherical of the 2023 NFL Draft. The workforce chosen Michigan’s Jake Moody, who owns the Wolverines’ information for factors, area targets, and 40-yard FGs, 99th general.

While this isn’t Sebastian Janikowski being drafted seventeenth general by the Raiders in 2000, there’s a good likelihood Moody, the 2021 Lou Groza Award winner, would have nonetheless been on board later within the Draft.

However, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned the workforce needed to make the transfer when it did.

“…[W]hen you look at the history, the majority of kickers go in the fourth round. We didn’t have a fourth-round pick,” he mentioned. “The guy was not going to be there in the fifth round.”

Since 2000, solely 49 kickers, together with Moody, have even been drafted. The final kicker taken within the third spherical was Roberto Aguayo, who was a 2016 choice for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before that, the final kicker taken within the third spherical was Nate Kaeding, who was drafted by the Chargers in 2003. Both Aguayo and Kaeding gained the Lou Groza Award as effectively.

San Fran misplaced Robbie Gould, its kicker since 2017, to free company. Granted, Gould is 40. The Niners traded for Zane Gonzalez, who missed the 2022 season to harm, again in March. Moody is 23 and twice gained Bakken–Andersen Kicker of the Year (the Big Ten’s particular groups award). He was a excellent 60-for-60 on further factors in his collegiate profession.

“In Moody, the Niners get the player widely regarded as the best kicker in the draft,” mentioned ESPN Staff Writer Nick Wagoner, who added, “[t]he 99th pick in the draft is rich for a kicker.”

San Francisco didn’t pick till the third spherical, choosing Ji’Ayir Brown at No. 87 earlier than choosing Moody 12 picks later.

The New England Patriots additionally took a kicker early, drafting Maryland’s Chad Ryland within the fourth spherical.