The San Francisco 49ers have some tough decisions to make this offseason. After missing the playoffs in 2024, the 49ers must change things around the roster.
One area that was a massive disappointment last season was the kicker. Jake Moody struggled immediately in 2024, but the latest report reveals that the 49ers plan to bring him back as the starter in 2025.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area appeared on the Bay Area radio station KNBR on Thursday and expressed that San Francisco already has Moody as the favorite to be the starter.
Maiocco said, "They're not moving on from Jake Moody. Now, the question would be, if they bring somebody else in to compete with him, he's going to have to win that job. But I'd say right now, if you were to ask me what the 49ers are going to do at kicker for the 2025 season, the prohibitive favorite is Jake Moody."
One #49ers insider weighed in on the future of the team’s kicker job.
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) February 28, 2025
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49ers Plan to Bring Back Jake Moody
During the 2024 season, the 25-year-old was a massive letdown. He went 24-of-34 on field-goal attempts (70.6%). Moody went 6-of-11 from 40-49 yards away and 4-of-9 from 50-plus yards away.
The 49ers couldn't rely on him throughout the season, but they are enamored to bring him back. San Francisco used a 2023 third-round pick on Moody, so it makes sense why they don't want to move on from him after two seasons.
Using a top-100 pick on a kicker is a bold decision, so when he starts to play shaky, management wants to support him.
While it's great to see the team back Moody, saying he's the favorite already doesn't seem like the best approach. Kickers play a huge role in whether teams win or lose in this league. Moody was a disappointment for the 49ers, and they would be wise to have a competition this summer to see if Moody is actually the best option at kicker.