49ers' looking increasingly clever after polarizing recent draft pick scoops up award for historic performance

There were plenty of raised eyebrows in the 2023 NFL Draft when the San Francisco 49ers used a third-round pick, only their second selection of the class, on a kicker.

But Jake Moody is continuing to make that pick look all the more astute.

Moody, the 99th overall pick last year, had a very encouraging rookie season, save for a missed game-winning attempt in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns. He ended it by hitting a pair of attempts 50-plus yards in the 49ers' Super Bowl 58 defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, though he also had a blocked extra point that proved critical in allowing Kansas City to force overtime.

He picked up where he left off in the 49ers' season opener with the New York Jets on Monday, which saw San Francisco cruise to a 32-19 win .

San Francisco scored on eight straight possessions after punting on their opening series. Moody kicked field goals on six of them, hitting from 46, 51, 31, 53, 23 and 42 yards out.

His 20 points led the entire NFL, while Moody's six field goals tied the franchise record for most in a single game.

Additional reward for his efforts came on Wednesday, when the NFL revealed Moody had been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Moody is the fourth San Francisco kicker to win the award in the past 15 years, following in the footsteps of Robbie Gould (seven-time winner), Phil Dawson (three) and David Akers (two).

After the win over the Jets, head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked if he feels more comfortable with 50-yard field goals than he has at any point coaching the 49ers.

"Probably for the distance, yeah," Shanahan said.

"That's the difference with Jake, is he does have a big leg. I get a number and where we can attempt it from. I don't really think much different of it, whether it's 50 or 47. I don't think it's too big of a difference for him."

Moody has quickly emerged as a substantial weapon for the 49ers with that leg. The Niners will want to punch the ball in the endzone more often, rather than relying on Moody's leg as much as they did on Monday. Still, it is a great option for the 49ers to have at their disposal, and few will be thinking about Moody's draft status if he continues to split the uprights with such impressive consistency.

Related: 49ers defensive star made Jets QB Aaron Rodgers play with one hand tied behind his back in Week 1