Watch: 49ers rookie kicker misses another field goal

Rookie kicker Jake Moody missed his third field goal in his last four tries on a 40-yard attempt in the first quarter of San Francisco's game at Minnesota. 

Signs were there before the game that Moody would struggle. During pregame warmups, he slipped while attempting a field goal. 

Moody began the season 9-for-9 before going 1-for-3 against the Browns in Week 6. San Francisco selected him in the third round (99th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Using a high draft pick on a kicker always brings about scrutiny and the second-guessing of the 49ers began the moment they made the selection.

Roberto Aguayo was the last kicker drafted as high as Moody, selected in the second round (59th overall) by Tampa Bay in 2016. Aguayo made 71 percent of his attempts and only lasted one year in the league.

The decision to draft Moody was even more questionable considering the excellent job former 49ers kicker Robbie Gould did in six seasons with the organization. He made 87.5 percent of his kicks, but the team elected not to resign him following the 2022 season.

However, drafting Moody wasn't the worst move the current 49ers front office has made, General manager John Lynch also engineered the trade that landed quarterback Trey Lance in San Francisco, one of the biggest misses in NFL Draft history.

The front office has some massive hits in later rounds, including tight end George Kittle, who was selected in the fifth round in 2017, and quarterback Brock Purdy, the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft.

Lynch and Shanahan have done an excellent job of making the 49ers a perennial contender. When the book is written on their success, drafting Moody won't be part of it.