49ers trade Nick Easton and a 6th round pick for LB Gerald Hodges

[ChrisPozz]

Adam Schefter:

Vikings traded linebacker Gerald Hodges to the San Francisco 49ers for a 6th-round draft pick and center Nick Easton.

Niners killed him in week one and then his snaps went way down from there (63 out of 73 in week one, followed by only 28, 37, and 26 snaps since then) but he had played better in the snaps he did get since the demotion).

[ChrisPozz]

Nathan Jahnke:

49ers getting a good LB in Gerald Hodges. Career +6.5 Run Defense, -0.1 Pass Rush, +5.5 Coverage grades over 673 career snaps

[arich35]

Better then Wilhoite?

[CrimsonCrew]

Seems to profile as a coverage guy, which is an area where our current ILBs are struggling. A bit surprised we moved Easton given the play at C, but hopefully that's an indication that Kilgore is coming back sooner rather than later. Moving a UDFA center and 6th rounder for a borderline starting caliber ILB seems like a pretty sound move.

[ChrisPozz]

Better then Wilhoite?

I'm still a fan of Wilhoite. Like a number of players on this defense I think they've been stretched and forced to do more than they are capable of at times but I'm still positive on Wilhoite. I'd feel better about Hodges than Skov or Bellore, though. Some may have already picked up on this but I've been waiting for the day to see Skov get the boot. I am completely neutral on Bellore and much of that would have to be determined based on what he does for you on STs.

[CalamityX12]

damn it... the great Pozz beat me to it....

I bow

[CalamityX12]

Seems to profile as a coverage guy, which is an area where our current ILBs are struggling. A bit surprised we moved Easton given the play at C, but hopefully that's an indication that Kilgore is coming back sooner rather than later. Moving a UDFA center and 6th rounder for a borderline starting caliber ILB seems like a pretty sound move.

Kilgore can't come back til after week 6 I believe any hoot...

but yes, nothing to bitch about here... sounds like we got ourselves a potential starter at ILB or at least serviceable to coverage...

maybe Mangini needed a LB to lineup on Odell this SNF?

[CalamityX12]

Plus side, he's a PSU player. You can always rely on LBs from Penn State!

[I_am_1z]

As long as Mangenius is the D coord, we need to have linebackers that are somewhat decent in coverage

[CalamityX12]

As long as Mangenius is the D coord, we need to have linebackers that are somewhat decent in coverage

sad but true...

[ChrisPozz]

Seems to profile as a coverage guy, which is an area where our current ILBs are struggling. A bit surprised we moved Easton given the play at C, but hopefully that's an indication that Kilgore is coming back sooner rather than later. Moving a UDFA center and 6th rounder for a borderline starting caliber ILB seems like a pretty sound move.

He's got some athleticism to him. He played QB in high school and wrestled. He got to Penn State and was placed at safety but moved almost immediately to LB due to injuries. Never moved back. He's not a typical Baalke length player and I always thought he could get stronger.

Has a connection with Bowman, too. He's also a very good kid when you listen to him. Or he was when I used to follow him. Impressive motor.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Better then Wilhoite?

Wilhoite is a bum. Been preaching that for the past couple of seasons now.

[Bingo_AlphaMan]

Gerald Hodges - LB - 49ers

49ers acquired LB Gerald Hodges from the Vikings in exchange for C Nick Easton and a sixth-round pick.

It's not a bad pickup for the Niners. Hodges was tied for third on the team with 20 tackles before the trade and owns PFF's 14th highest inside linebacker grade out of 51 qualifiers. Hodges should be an upgrade over Michael Wilhoite, who has been among the worst inside linebackers in football this year.
Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter

Oct 6 - 4:34 PM

[Hangman_52]

so we traded a 6th and a 7th for him cause that is what we traded for Easton.

[ChrisPozz]

so we traded a 6th and a 7th for him cause that is what we traded for Easton.

The Easton pick was conditional and likely not met.

[Hangman_52]

I think it also means Kilgore is ready to comeback.

[ChrisPozz]

I think it also means Kilgore is ready to comeback.

He can't come back until October 22nd vs. the Seahawks because he was placed on the PUP list. I'd imagine they'd rely on Silberman if they had to before then.

[Pattersonca65]

I'll reserve judgement on this one till they have both had a chance to play. Hate to see an olineman go. This team could really use some help. Easton played really well in preseason. Not that it would carry over into the regular season, but might have been an option had Martin continued to struggle or get even worse. Kilgore is supposed to be elgible for the Seahawks game but some of the articles I''ve read question whether he will be ready to play by then because of conditioning and the severity of the 2nd surgery.

[Pattersonca65]

From Ninersnation, I writeup from the Vikings site

http://www.ninersnation.com/2015/10/6/9466607/learning-more-about-new-49ers-linebacker-gerald-hodges

[Jikkle]

A little unsure on this move as horrid as the offensive line has been I thought it would've been good to keep and develop Easton. But it's not like linebacker is a big position of strength either so we'll see.