Falcons sign Jake Moody, cut Nick Folk after 5 misses

Atlanta's patience with its veteran kicker ran out this week, and the last miss came on an international stage.

Greg Auman

@gregauman

This means Nick Folk is out after missing five field goals this season, including one Sunday in Madrid.

Jordan Schultz

@Schultz_Report

Sources: The #Falcons are signing K Jake Moody off the #Ravens practice squad and adding him to their 53-man roster. Moody hit a 53-yard FG for Baltimore on Sunday and is now poised to take over in Atlanta. t.co/QJ5Z1m23EJ

That's a rough way for this to end for Folk, who spent the previous 3 years as one of the most accurate kickers in the league. Atlanta paid him like one, too: ESPN reports he signed a 2-year, $9 million deal with $4 million guaranteed. He finishes his Falcons run 13-of-18 on field goals and just 1-of-4 from 50 yards or more. In a league where coaches lose sleep over every 3 points left on the field, those numbers were never going to last.

Atlanta's replacement is a guy who has been all over the league for a year. Moody went from 49ers draft pick to journeyman kicker, and his numbers since leaving San Francisco look like a completely different player.

Eric Branch

@Eric_Branch

Jake Moody has spent time with the Bears, Commanders, Ravens and now Falcons since the #49ers waived him after 2025 season opener. Moody has made 19 of 21 FGs (90.4%) since leaving 49ers With 49ers: 46 of 62 (74.2%)

Jordan Schultz

@Schultz_Report

Sources: The #Falcons are signing K Jake Moody off the #Ravens practice squad and adding him to their 53-man roster. Moody hit a 53-yard FG for Baltimore on Sunday and is now poised to take over in Atlanta. t.co/QJ5Z1m23EJ

That's the case for Moody in 1 tweet. He was shaky in San Francisco and has been money on the road since. He only got a shot in Baltimore because Tyler Loop went on injured reserve with a groin injury, and in his first game for the Ravens he hit a 53-yarder in a downpour last Thursday. Baltimore elevated him from the practice squad for that game rather than signing him to the 53-man roster, though, so he went right back to the practice squad afterward and any team could sign him. Atlanta did.

According to Jeff Zrebiec, it wasn't just the Ravens getting caught napping. Moody had a choice, and he picked the dome.

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

Sounds like Ravens were willing to put Moody on 53, but he was attracted by the Atlanta situation, a chance to kick indoors and not necessarily be a placeholder (like he may have been in Baltimore when Loop was back healthy/off IR).

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

Ravens have an empty spot on their 53-man roster, so it's curious why they wouldn't have just added Moody to keep him. Also could have been a matter of Moody knowing Tyler Loop will be back in a few weeks and wanting the longer-term opportunity that the Falcons could offer.

Honestly, you can't blame him. Once Loop came off IR, Moody would have been a placeholder in Baltimore, kicking through November and December in the cold. In Atlanta he gets the job outright and gets to kick indoors at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which ESPN notes would be a first for him. For a kicker trying to rebuild his reputation, that's about as good as it gets. Baltimore, meanwhile, has a problem to solve quickly.

Jeff Zrebiec

@jeffzrebiec

Ravens players are off until Wednesday, so they'll need a kicker in place by tomorrow afternoon's practice. A few of available FAs: Nick Folk, Daniel Carlson, Riley Patterson, Harrison Mevis. They can try and poach a kicker off another team's practice squad.

Yes, the guy Atlanta just cut is now on the list of options for Baltimore. Expect the Ravens to grab a veteran like Daniel Carlson or Riley Patterson, or poach someone off a practice squad, to cover the weeks until Loop is back. In Atlanta, the bet is simple: Moody's 19-of-21 stretch has to be the real version of him, because the Falcons just cut a $9 million kicker to find out.