The San Francisco 49ers are not far from making their first selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. The question, now, is whether they’ll stand pat on the second day or make a move up.
Or, down? Matt Maiocco joined Papa and Lund hours before the draft on Friday to discuss whether the team could be active in trades. Listen below.
Maiocco said that he doesn’t really expect the team to trade up because they have most of their starters locked in and can make better use of their pick allotment as it stands. There is an exception, though.
“They really don’t need — and I think it will be difficult for them to get — a player who steps in and makes an immediate, every down contribution,” Maiocco said. “Here’s kind of the wild card, would they take a kicker at 102?”
Kicker? Kicker?! In the third round?!
^That was basically John Lund’s reaction.
Yes, Matt Maiocco said. Kicker is in contention in the fourth round.
“Let’s say they trade back into the fourth round, they move back to get more picks,” Maiocco said. “I think that’ll be a clear signal to any team who might want a kicker, that they will have to get ahead of the 49ers if they want that kicker… I think that middle of the fourth round will be the sweet spot for kickers.”
Michigan’s Jake Moody is the obvious choice. He’s viewed as the top kicker in this year’s draft. Aside from the Roberto Aguayo blunder in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016, no kicker has been selected before the fourth round dating back to 2006.
It is, however, a priority. Maiocco thinks the optics of a trade down might force the 49ers’ hand. He doesn’t think Zane Gonzalez is a real answer at the kicking position.
“I still think that they come out of this draft with a kicker to replace Zane Gonzalez, the guy who I would consider a placeholder,” Maiocco said.
San Francisco has picks 99, 101 and 102 to close out the third round. After that, they won’t pick again until No. 156 in the fifth round.