San Francisco 49ers seek Eddy Pineiro as new kicking option after waiving Jake Moody
The San Francisco 49ers are in search of a new kicker following the decision to waive Jake Moody. The move comes less than three seasons into Moody’s NFL career, which began with promise as a third-round pick in 2023.
Eddy Pineiro in the Spotlight
In a bid to fill the void, the 49ers are evaluating veteran kicker Eddy Pineiro. According to reports, the team is working out Pineiro, who is making a visit today. At 29 years old, Pineiro is set to celebrate his 30th birthday this Saturday. He began his collegiate career at the University of Florida and entered the NFL as an undrafted player with the Chicago Bears in 2019. In his rookie season, he made 23 of 28 field goal attempts, showcasing his potential.
A Rocky Road for Moody
Moody’s release followed a troubling stretch of performance that saw him make only 12 of his last 23 field goal attempts. His woes were highlighted during the last game when he missed a 27-yarder and had a 36-yarder blocked. After a promising start in 2023, where he converted 84% of his field goals, Moody’s accuracy plummeted to 70% in 2024, raising concerns about his reliability.
Pineiro’s Track Record
While Pineiro hasn’t officially signed with the 49ers yet, he appears to be the frontrunner to take over the kicking duties. Over the past three seasons, he served as the kicker for the Carolina Panthers, achieving impressive season percentages of 94.3%, 86.2%, and 84.6% on field goals. Throughout his career, Pineiro has successfully converted 88.1% of his field goal attempts and 92.1% of extra points, making him a solid candidate for the role.
As the 49ers navigate this transition, the pressure is on to stabilize their kicking game. The team is eager to put the recent struggles behind them, looking for Pineiro to bring consistency and reliability moving forward.
