The first kicker has come off the board. The 49ers used pick No. 99 – their second overall selection in 2023 – on Michigan product Jake Moody. 
Moody becomes the first kicker to hear his name called in the top-100 since the Buccaneers chose Roberto Aguayo in the second round in 2016. Moody was widely seen as the top option at the position in the 2023 class, but the timing of his addition is notable on a few levels.
He spent five years with the Wolverines, and had a highly effective time there over the past two seasons in particular. Moody was a consensus All-American in 2021, taking home the Lou Groza award as the nation’s top kicker. He followed that up by leading the NCAA in both field goal makes (29) and attempts (35) this past season.
The fifth-year senior posted FG percentages of 92% and 83% over the past two years. He also made all 60 of his extra point attempts, and will be tasked with converting that success to the NFL level right away, considering how the 49ers have proceeded at the kicker position this offseason.
It came out last month that veteran Robbie Gould would not re-sign in San Francisco this year, putting an end to his six-year run with the team. Over the course of the 40-year-old’s career, he has yet to miss a kick in the postseason, something which will make his absence a notable one in 2023 as the 49ers look to make another deep playoff run.
San Francisco has the other two members of their special teams battery (punter Mitch Wishnowski and long snapper Taybor Pepper) under contract, so Moody will still be entering a situation with familiarity at those positions. Still, given the identity of who he is replacing – and the value of the pick used to select him – he will no doubt face considerable expectations as a rookie.