News 49ers Team Notes

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers special teams coordinator reveals offseason plan for Jake Moody, kicker competition

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

The Niners could challenge their third-round kicker with competition this offseason.

The San Francisco 49ers are just a few weeks away from the next stage of their offseason program, as things begin to ramp up following rookie minicamp.

Each of the team’s coordinators got to speak with reporters this past week, sharing updates on players and the plan for the remainder of the offseason.

One of the positions that still has questions is kicker, where incumbent starter Jake Moody struggled in 2024, hitting just 70.6 percent of his field goals and ranking in the bottom half on extra point percentage as well.

At the end of last season, it seemed clear that the 49ers would bring in competition for Moody, although head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed confidence in the kicker.

Now, heading into the offseason, what is the team’s plan for the position and where do they stand on Moody?

“There isn’t a special teams coach in this league that didn’t have him rated number one coming out [of the 2023 NFL Draft], that I know of,” special teams coordinator Brant Boyer said of Moody. “He’s as talented a kid as it gets. I think that the injury issue, where he was fighting injuries, going back and forth, I think that had a lot to do with it.”

Moody did have a strong start to the season, hitting 13 of his first 14 field goals before suffering an injury that cost him over a month. After that, the kicker really struggled, only going 11/20 the rest of the year on field goals.

Boyer also believes that the move to bring in long snapper Jon Weeks will contribute to Moody’s growth and confidence, which will be important this upcoming year.

“I think us bringing in [long snapper Jon] Weeks is going to help,” Boyer continued. “I think that the kid [will get] his mind right, which I think he’s doing. He’s doing a hell of a job for us, so far. I think he’ll do a heck of a job for us. I really do.”

Still, with the confidence in Moody, Boyer understood that Moody would need to win the job in the preseason to be San Francisco’s kicker in 2025.

“Well, yeah. I mean, it all comes down to what happens in the preseason and everything, just like in any other position, for sure,” Boyer said about Moody being the starter.

San Francisco still has several options that it can bring from the free agency pool to serve as competition. But, it seems that the coaching staff has confidence in Moody and believes he can bounce back from a rough year in 2024.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5...boyer-offseason-jake-moody-kicker-competition

 

[San Francisco 49ers]

49ers sign undrafted free agent linebacker to a 3-year deal

Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Stone Blanton has agreed to a three-year deal with the 49ers. The undrafted free agent played linebacker in the SEC at both Mississippi State and South Carolina.

San Francisco 49ers undrafted free agent linebacker Stone Blanton recently got married. That was a scheduling conflict, as it meant Blanton would need to be excused for rookie minicamp.

On Monday, the team announced they had signed Blanton to a three-year deal. Blanton started 24 games over three seasons in the SEC. Twelve came in 2024 at Mississippi State, where Blanton finished the year with a career-best 125 tackles. Blanton had seven career games with double-digit tackles, including an 18-tackle performance against Missouri this past season.

The 49ers must’ve liked the way the junior finished the season. Blanton had 14+ tackles in three of the final four games. Instead of returning for his senior season, Blanton entered the draft. Blanton being around the ball that much should help him carve out a role as a special teamer — an area where the 49ers need help.

Blanton’s rookie season will effectively be his senior year, so the Niners might see him as a developmental prospect who plays their style and could help on special teams or defense in a year or two.

We’ve seen the Niners roster multiple undrafted free agents at linebacker during Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch’s tenure. Azeez Al-Shaair was one. Perhaps Blanton will serve as Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles’s (another UDFA) replacement.

The current linebackers are Fred Warner, rookie Nick Martin, Dee Winters, Luke Gifford, Tatum Bethune, Jalen Graham, and Curtis Robinson.

Source: https://www.ninersnation.com/2025/5/12/24428780/49ers-stone-blanton-fred-warner-udfa-azeez-al-shaair