49ers’ Jake Moody is 5th kicker to be drafted in Rounds 1-3 since 2000
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
(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
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
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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
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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
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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.
