The San Francisco 49ers had three third-round picks in the 2023 NFL draft.
Why not use one on a kicker?
The 49ers did exactly that when they took former Michigan kicker Jake Moody No. 99 overall on Day 2.
Moody earned the 2021 Lou Groza Award and also was a consensus All-American that season. In 2022, Moody was a second-team All-American, but remained a first-team All-Big Ten the past two years.
The 6-0, 209-pound kicker — according to NFL combine measurements — punctuated his Michigan career with 355 points, a new program high. Moody also hit a 59-yard field goal last season, setting a new team record.
Here are the other kickers drafted in the first through third rounds since 2000.
2000 — Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders
Leave it to Al Davis to take a kicker in the first round. Why not? It worked in 1973 when the Raiders took future Hall-of-Fame punter Ray Guy. Janikowski earned his only Pro Bowl in 2011, the same year he connected on a career-long 63-yard field goal. Janikowski played with Oakland through the 2016 season, and kicked one more season with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018.
2004 — Nate Kaeding, San Diego Chargers
The Chargers used a third-round pick to take Kaeding. The former Iowa product earned two Pro Bowl selections and a first-team All-Pro. Kaeding played with the Chargers through 2012 when they released him after three games. Kaeding played two more career games with the Miami Dolphins that season.
2005 — Mike Nugent, New York Jets
The Jets lost in overtime to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2004 AFC divisional thanks to Doug Brien’s shakiness. The Jets over corrected and took Nugent in Round 2 of the 2005 draft. Nugent stayed with the Jets through the 2008 season. After that, Nugent became a journeyman kicker with stops in Tampa Bay (2009), Arizona (2009, 2020), Cincinnati (2010-16), Chicago (2017), Dallas (2017), Oakland (2018), and New England (2019).
2016 — Roberto Aguayo, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Aguayo went in Round 2 of the 2016 draft. The former Florida State product was a Lou Groza winner in 2013. The potential was there. However, he was 22-31 (71.0%) on field goals and 32-34 (94.1%) on extra points. Aguayo never played in another regular season game again after his rookie year. Chicago (2017), Carolina (2017), the Chargers (2018), and New England (2020-21) had Aguayo as members of their offseason or preseason rosters, but nothing manifested.
2023 — Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers are the latest team to take a kicker within the first two days of the draft. Let’s see how it plays out.
