I think if you are the San Francisco 49ers and you are set at most positions, you can afford to take a kicker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The team selected Jake Moody of Michigan, who owns wolverinerecord for marksField Goals and 40-Yard FGs99th overall.
However, it is not like that Sebastian Janikowski Has A Good Chance To Be Drafted 17th Overall By The Raiders In 2000 Moody, 2021 Lou Groza Award Winner, Would have still been on the board later in the draft.
However, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan the team said When it did, steps had to be taken.
,,[W]When you look at history, most kickers go in the fourth round. we didn’t have a fourth round choose,” They said, ,That guy wasn’t going to be there in the fifth round.
since 2000, only 49 kickers, including Moody’s, have also been drafted. The last kicker taken in the third round was Roberto Aguayo, a 2016 selection for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Prior to this the last kicker taken in the third round was Nate Kaeding, who was Drafted by the Chargers in 2003. Aguayo and Kaeding both won the loo groza award Too.
San Fran lost its kicker, Robbie Gould, from 2017. for free agency, Granted, Gold is 40. niners traded for Zane Gonzalez, Joe missed the 2022 season with an injury in March. Moody is 23 and has won twice Bakken-Anderson Kicker of the Year (Big Ten special teams award). He was a perfect 60-for-60 on extra points in his collegiate career.
“Moody, the Niners player widely regarded as the best kicker in the draft,” ESPN staff writer Nick Wagner saidwho added[t]The 99th pick in the draft is pretty good for a kicker.”
San Francisco didn’t pick until the third round, selection of G’air Brown at No. 87 Choose the later before choosing the Moody 12.
The New England Patriots also took a starting kicker in the fourth round, drafting Maryland’s Chad Ryland.