How would you handle the Jake Moody ‘situation’

So, Jake Moody wasn’t very good this year. This comes after an up-and-down rookie season, which many may define with the missed extra point in the Super Bowl. That point may have helped the San Francisco 49ers win that game.

Kyle Shanahan was initially not pleased with Moody’s performance last week against the Miami Dolphins, but he turned around and gave him confidence on Thursday. Sure, Moody has been dealing with a high ankle sprain, but that seems to be more of an excuse. Shanahan hasn’t ruled out competition at training camp, so the 49ers are mulling over some options.

So, how do you sort out all of this? Moody has fallen out of the fans' good graces with his declining performance, high-ankle sprain or not. Whether he’s missing kicks or getting penalized on kickoffs, he hasn’t been doing well for a third-round pick.

It’s time to play armchair GM.

Should the 49ers release him, Jake Moody’s contract wouldn’t necessarily be back-breaking. His dead money hit wouldn’t be huge, and he’d get the 49ers back another million in savings if he were released. So, if you’re worried about dead money, that’s not an issue.

There are two things to think of if you are in the camp: moving on from Moody and not giving him a chance.

First, you confirmed your belief that a third-round pick could not develop in two more seasons to be serviceable. A lot of players have a sophomore slump, including kickers. So you’re not just saying he’s inadequate now, but he’s never going to get it together, thanks to his downseason. That’s said with the caveat that his rookie season was a “rookie season.” It’s not like Moody was 100 percent on field goals in 2023, and this was his first bad season.

Second, you believe a better option is out there to replace him. Can you find a kicker off the street that won’t charge you $4-$6 million annually? If you can, they probably are already on a team or are about to use that number to get on another team when they hit free agency. That’s if you want an elite kicker who can kick further than 40 yards.

If you look at free agency in 2025, there’s plenty of kickers that make $1 million I’d find an upgrade, unfortunately, if they kicked well in 2024, the team they are on may lock them in before they even get a sniff of the market, others are just iffy. Zane Gonzalez, who was brought in Moody’s rookie season, is set to be available as it was due to Austin Siebert’s injury. Gonzalez did not look too great in his four-game sample size. Brandon McManus, who is currently with the Green Bay Packers, is having a nice little season, but that estimated $1 million salary he has in 2024 will most likely be more since he is currently sitting at 16-17. The only reason he came so cheap was his sexual assault lawsuit was still ongoing, but now that it has been resolved, he may command a better salary.

Despite all the variables, I still think bringing in someone who can compete with Moody is correct. If the issue is between Moody’s ears, the pressure will mount during training camp, and you have your answer. Unlike other seasons, Moody would know he’s expendable this time, and he’s playing for his job—so there’s some needed pressure out of the gate. Two seasons is enough time for him to figure out the speed of the NFL. His kicks haven’t cost the 49ers games, but they could have won the 49ers some of them. If any second-tier kickers become available, sign them as a camp body and let the best man win.

Just outright cutting Moody isn’t a wise move, but it’s clear by on-field evidence that something needs to change. If the 49ers had the guts to trade Trey Lance away to start Brock Purdy, then they certainly have no issue moving on from Moody if it isn’t working. And if his issues this year were the ankle sprain, then he has nothing to worry about when competition in 2025 rolls around.

What do you think the 49ers should do?