When the San Francisco 49ers drafted kicker Jake Moody in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, many believed it was a bold choice. Kickers usually don’t get picked that early. However, the 49ers stood by Moody as the right person to replace veteran Robbie Gould, who had been one of the most dependable postseason kickers in the NFL. However, two seasons later, things hadn’t gone as well as the team had hoped.
Moody struggled beneath the pressure of meeting high expectations. His troubles began early in his rookie season. In week 6, he missed two field goals against the Cleveland Browns, which cost the team a crucial game for their season. For most players, one bad performance might go unnoticed, but for a kicker, mistakes stand out. Each miss feels like it could alter the season’s trajectory, ultimately changing its outcome, and fans quickly started to question whether Moody was the right choice.
Many people argue his issues haven’t been physical; they’ve been mental. Kickers depend heavily on confidence. Once Moody missed a couple of important kicks, it was safe to say he had run out of confidence. Even when Moody made a rare long kick, the crippling pressure remained. He was one of the few kickers to be drafted in the first 3 rounds, so the expectation was automatic success, but he lacked consistency.
Some fans lost patience early on.
“He was the worst player on the team; the Niners are so good everywhere else,” said freshman Reese Wiegand. “So when Moody missed it, it just felt like a bigger deal.”
It’s possible that Moody could still find success in the NFL, but many NFL teams won’t be willing to trust him in critical moments due to his past struggles. It’s fairly straightforward: the 49ers can’t have a young kicker learning the job while they chase a Super Bowl.
Not everyone believes the team should’ve given up on Moody, “I think they should have stuck with him,” said junior Joel Leung. “He’s young and most kickers just need time to adjust to a new environment.”
This shows that some fans are willing to give Moody the benefit of the doubt, despite his past failings, especially since Moody has undeniable leg strength. However, there was not much patience for a Super Bowl-contending roster. The 49ers did not have the time to develop a young kicker while their championship window was open. Replacing Robbie Gould, the almost automatic veteran in high-pressure situations, was always going to be difficult. Moody, saddled with his draft pick, the fans, and early frustration and pressure, ultimately fell out of favor with the organization. Moody’s time with the 49ers came to an end this September, when the 49ers officially released him. The move confirmed what everyone had suspected: San Francisco would not risk another season on a wobbly leg.
The experiment for the 49ers is over, and their bold roll of the dice in drafting a kicker in the third round will be remembered by most as a costly mistake that may have cost them a Super Bowl.
