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The San Francisco 49ers faced a serious change at a position of strength when kicker Robbie Gould announced his intentions to play elsewhere in 2023, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
As a result, the 49ers were in search of a kicker for the first time in the Kyle Shanahan era, as Gould arrived in 2017 when he posted career numbers.
Then, San Francisco made a move in the kicker market, trading a 2025 conditional seventh-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for kicker Zane Gonzalez, potentially finding their solution for the upcoming season.
However, general manager John Lynch acknowledged the 49ers' interest in kickers at the NFL combine, and the team could still look to select one of the top players at the position when the 2023 NFL Draft begins at the end of the month.
The Athletic's Matt Barrows provided some insight into the 49ers' continued search for their next kicker, reporting Wednesday that the team had worked out each of the top kickers in the draft.
"The 49ers worked out both [Michigan kicker
Jake Moody and Maryland kicker Chad Ryland] last month, according to the agency that represents them. Special teams coordinator Brian Schneider also conducted a workout on March 13 with Auburn kicker Anders Carlson, the younger brother of Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson and someone who could be a late-round pick later this month," Barrows wrote.
According to Barrows, experts believe that the run on kickers will begin in the fourth or fifth round, with Moody projected to be the first selected of the bunch.
"Kornblue and several other kicking experts consulted for this story said the first kicker in this year's draft, which most expect will be Michigan's Jake Moody, probably will be taken in the fourth or fifth round," said Barrows.
What're the 49ers looking for with their kicker search?
It appears they're heavily valuing the kickoff aspect, as each of the three prospects, as well as recent acquisition Zane Gonzalez, are good in that field, which had been an issue with both Robbie Gould and
Mitch Wishnowsky.
"A common denominator among the three is that they're good at kickoffs, with Carlson's workout kicks landing as far as 9 yards into the end zone. The 49ers, meanwhile, struggled with kickoffs over the past two seasons. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky handled the job in 2021, but he wasn't good at it and it seemed to affect his punting. Last season, kickoffs went to Robbie Gould, who had the role full time for the first time since 2016. The 49ers ranked 28th in the league in touchback rate in each of the past two seasons," said Barrows.
The 49ers may not be confined to selecting a kicker, as there should be available options in undrafted free agency, which could provide them with a young, potent option to challenge Gonzalez for the starting job.
Gonzalez's spot isn't guaranteed at the moment, as the 49ers owe him zero guaranteed money on his $1.465 million cap hit for 2023, meaning they can move on without any financial implications.
The San Francisco 49ers are likely hoping that a top offensive lineman drops to them at No. 31 in the first round of this month's draft. Fans would like to see the team add someone to compete with Colton McKivitz for the right tackle spot and potentially take over for Trent Williams when the future Hall of Famer decides to retire.
Having two studs bookending the offensive line would go a long way in protecting franchise quarterback Brock Purdy. While tackle may be the first-round target, depending on how the first 30 selections play out, San Francisco might have to trade up to get a genuinely impactful
With the 2024 NFL Draft less than two weeks away, NFL Media draft analyst Chad Reuter recently identified the ideal top two draft picks for each team. The San Francisco 49ers have 10 selections in the upcoming draft, with their first two picks at No. 31 overall and No. 63.
Reuter noted, "I kept some semblance of realism in this process, however, assigning each player only once and making reasonable projections of where prospects may be selected."
Who are the standout picks for the 49ers? Reuter envisions the team addressing both offense and defense with their initial selections. It's widely anticipated that San Francisco will bolster its offensive line with
The San Francisco 49ers are holding their local pro day today at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The team has released the full roster of participants.
An NFL local pro day is an event hosted by teams to allow prospects with ties to the local area to showcase their skills in front of team personnel. These prospects typically hail from nearby colleges or have some other connection to the region where the team is based. Head coach Kyle Shanahan, general manager John Lynch, and a contingent of coaches, executives, and scouts will be on hand to evaluate prospective draftees during the 49ers' local pro day.
The event aims to give the team a closer look at these local talents who may have received less attention during the regular scouting process. It will allow the
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of wide receiver Trent Taylor to a one-year deal, reuniting with the team's former fifth-round draft pick out of Louisiana Tech.
Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area was the first to report that the 49ers were discussing a potential reunion with Taylor. The receiver was part of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch's first draft class in 2017 and spent his first four NFL seasons with the team.
The #49ers are talking with free-agent slot receiver/return man
