49ers GM lauds “cornerstone” player Jake Moody’s potential as game-changing kicker following third-round NFL Draft pick

Given how highly kickers are valued by teams, the San Francisco 49ers’ selection of kicker Jake Moody surprised many NFL fans and caused a lot of controversy for the organization.

Moody was selected 99th overall in the third round of the NFL Draft, becoming just the third player at his position to be taken in the fourth round or higher since 2006. His consistency in putting the ball through the uprights earned him the moniker “Money Moody” during his college career.

What was said by the 49ers GM in praise of their contentious draft pick Jake Moody?

Even though kickers are not given a lot of attention in the NFL, they can make or break a team by helping the offense achieve its objective of scoring more points through extra points. The 49ers selected Jake in the third round of the NFL Draft because they are aware of the facts, despite having to deal with numerous trolls over this decision.

Moody was one of the top kickers in college football in 2022, and both 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch praised their decision to draft him as a “cornerstone” player.

“A lot of teams needed a kicker, and there were kind of two or three that were viable options in the draft. There were a couple available via trade. But again, we kept coming back to we felt like Jake Moody in his talent and then his makeup, his mental makeup, which is very important at that position, was the guy that we were most interested in,” Lynch stated explaining their decision.

The Michigan star was a finalist in 2022 and won the Lou Groza Award in 2021 as the best kicker in the country. For Michigan, he has excelled in high-stakes situations where everything is on the line and broke Quinn Nordin’s previous record of 57 yards. 

The 23-year-old finished his career with an all-time program-high of 355 points after four seasons with the team, making 69 of his 84 field goal attempts.

We all anticipate seeing the legendary Michigan football player demonstrate his value for the Niners as he did for his previous team and establish a strong position in the NFL.