Such as a team would even be compelled to do so, taking a kicker before Day 3 of a draft easily opens up scrutiny. The San Francisco 49ers took that plunge in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and Jake Moody was fine (if somewhat inconsistent) as a rookie.
Missing three games with an ankle injury was not helpful last season, but Moody was simply awful after returning to action (11-of-20 on field goals over the final nine games; 5-of-14 from 40-plus yards out).
Moody is ripe to be replaced, and he should at least face competition during OTAs and training camp. This week at the NFL Owner's Meetings. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed competition will be added.
The 49ers plan to bring in a veteran kicker after the draft to compete with Jake Moody, coach Kyle Shanahan said.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) April 1, 2025
It's worth wondering how much the 49ers will genuinely entertain a competitor for Moody, and the list of free agent options (barring someone being cut in the future) is not exactly robust.
While drafting a kicker again doesn't feel like a great idea, it would be palatable later than the Ninerstook Moody. An undrafted rookie would also of course be a potential option.
Via a free-agent signing after the draft (like Shanahan prescribed), or a rookie added during or after the draft, here are some options San Francisco could add to compete with (and possibly unseat) Moody.
4 kickers 49ers could add to unseat Jake Moody
4. Matt Prater
Prater kicked in just four games for the Arizona Cardinals last season due to a torn meniscus in his plant-leg knee. The Cardinals opened his practice window in December, which was a sign he was getting healthy enough to kick, but he was never activated.
Prater made all six of his field goals and all 10 of his extra points before being injured last season. His field-goal percentage was shakier in years prior, but he also had double-digit attempts from 50-plus in three of four seasons from 2020 through 2023 with a league-best long of 62 yards in 2023.
Prater is of course up in age, as he'll turn 41 years old in August, but his resume says he should be on the 49ers' radar and he's still plenty capable.
3. Ryan Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald improved over the course of his college career at Florida State, culminating in a perfect final campaign in 2024 (14-of-14 on extra points, 13-of-13 on field goals). He also went 5-of-5 from 50-plus yards out last season, with a high of 59 yards. 2023 was his best year for the Seminoles, as he went 58-of-58 on extra points and 19-of-21 on field goals.
As Justin Melo of The Draft Network noted, mechanical adjustments led to Fitzgerald's improvement at Florida State--all the way to him potentially being the first kicker drafted this year.
If the Niners are doing legwork on kickers in the draft, and they should be, Fitzgerald belongs on the list.
2. Andres Borregales
Borregales was a four-year starter at the University of Miami, and he leaves as the school's all-time leading scorer. His consistency stood out in the sea of college kickers who are anything but, as he missed just one extra point while making 86 percent of his field goals during his college career (7-of-10 on 50-plus yards out for his career).
The 49ers were among several teams to meet with Borregales during Shrine Bowl week in late-January, which was the first real sign Moody was on the hot seat.
At minimum, Moody's failures should not totally push San Francisco away from drafting a kicker this year. Evaluation has to be done on a case-by-case basis, and as arguably the top kicker in this year's draft class Borregales should be on the radar.
1. Nick Folk
Folk is 40 years old, but he led the league in field-goal percentage in each of the last two seasons with the Tennessee Titans. As for any concerns about leg strength at an advanced age, he went 6-of-6 from 50-plus yards out last year and 5-of-6 the year before.
Folk did miss the last three games last season due to an abdomen injury, but the Titans inexplicably pivoted to Joey Slye as their new kicker. The explanation for the move could have been Folk intends to retire, but that does not seem to be the case.
Signing Folk, or not, may prove how serious the 49ers are about replacing Moody. It may also show if Folk thinks he can win the job, or what he's told about his chances to do so. Any way you slice it, Folk is the top available kicker right now and he's the automatic top option for the Niners to add as competition for Moody.