Hodges traded for 6th-rounder & center Nick Easton

[halfgiz]

We got our 6th round pick back that we gave up for Sirles? What is his staus?
I just hope we aren't accumulating un drafted players. Sometimes you only get what you pay for when your bargain hunting.

[dead_poet]

We got our 6th round pick back that we gave up for Sirles? What is his staus?

Sirles? He's healthy. Easton is healthy, too.

[dead_poet]

I think Hodges wanted out. This was posted right after news broke of the trade.

Perhaps he wanted more playing time?

This is all very curious.

[Mothman]

Perhaps he wanted more playing time?

This is all very curious.

I think the explanation is probably simple: they feel they're deep enough at LB to make Hodges expendable and they need a center behind Berger. They're probably also looking for someone they can groom to eventually replace Sullivan (and perhaps replace Berger as the primary backup next year), someone sharp who will make the line calls effectively. According to Spielman, they had interest in Easton during the draft.

Plus, we know Spielman likes to accumulate draft picks!

Let's hope it works out well.

[dead_poet]

I think the explanation is probably simple: they feel they're deep enough at LB to make Hodges expendable and they need a center behind Berger. They're probably also looking for someone they can groom to eventually replace Sullivan (and perhaps replace Berger as the primary backup next year), someone sharp who will make the line calls effectively. According to Spielman, they had interest in Easton during the draft.

Plus, we know Spielman likes to accumulate draft picks!

Let's hope it works out well.

That's probably the case but on the surface it's still curious to me. Rick usually gets good value out of trades. Hodges was a fourth-rounder that was seemingly making quite a bit of progress under Zimmer and had a great camp. He was getting consistent playing time, something Easton likely won't be getting as a third-string rookie center. I suppose even though I was never a big Hodges fan I valued him at at least his original fourth-round draft pick level. I expect the 49ers will get a lot more production out of Hodges than the Vikings will Easton, especially in the short-term.

But you're right, maybe they really needed more center depth (would they be completely screwed if something happened to Berger?), making taking less necessary. I don't know if you can count on grooming an UDFA as Sullivan's heir apparent, though. But he's just a rookie and presumably has at least three years to sharpen up before we may need to move on from Sully (probably earlier to move on from Berger as a backup center as you mention). With this trade and the loss of Peters I just hope we don't end up in a position like the Chargers when they traded away Sirles and then were decimated at offensive line, wishing they had him back.

Yes, Rick does like his draft picks. Do you know where we are draft pick wise going into 2016? I admit I've lost count. We might be back to where we started now before the Cassel/Sirles moves?

[dead_poet]

Star-Tribune story with Rick's comments:

http://www.startribune.com/vikings-trus ... 330956471/

[Mothman]

That's probably the case but on the surface it's still curious to me. Rick usually gets good value out of trades. Hodges was a fourth-rounder that was seemingly making quite a bit of progress under Zimmer and had a great camp. He was getting consistent playing time, something Easton likely won't be getting as a third-string rookie center. I suppose even though I was never a big Hodges fan I valued him at at least his original fourth-round draft pick level. I expect the 49ers will get a lot more production out of Hodges than the Vikings will Easton, especially in the short-term.

Perhaps but I think it's unlikely this was a short term move.

But you're right, maybe they really needed more center depth (would they be completely screwed if something happened to Berger?), making taking less necessary. I don't know if you can count on grooming an UDFA as Sullivan's heir apparent, though.

They certainly can't count on it but they obviously liked what they've seen from Easton enough to feel it's worth a shot.

But he's just a rookie and presumably has at least three years to sharpen up before we may need to move on from Sully (probably earlier to move on from Berger as a backup center as you mention). With this trade and the loss of Peters I just hope we don't end up in a position like the Chargers when they traded away Sirles and then were decimated at offensive line, wishing they had him back.

Yes, hopefully, they'll stay pretty healthy at LB.

Yes, Rick does like his draft picks. Do you know where we are draft pick wise going into 2016? I admit I've lost count. We might be back to where we started now before the Cassel/Sirles moves?

I've lost count too but I think that's the case (i.e: they're back to where they started).

[Mothman]

Ben Goessling's take:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... dges-trade

But the Vikings' moves for interior line depth should be noted, and it's also worth noting they felt comfortable parting with Hodges after seeing Kendricks for just four games. There's not always a clear-cut right answer to the dozens of roster decisions a NFL front office must face, but the Vikings felt comfortable making Tuesday's deal largely because of what they think they have in Kendricks. Now, he'll get a chance to play the three-down role the Vikings seemed to be holding for him.

[dead_poet]

Ben Goessling's take:

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_ ... dges-trade

And here I thought next season Hodges would be taking over Greenway's spot where I felt he looked more comfortable. Now Kendricks might still do that but on the surface it seems like we will have yet another hole to fill at linebacker in 2016.

[losperros]

I like the move. Trading a position we had a lot of depth at for something we need badly, and Jeff Davidson is good at getting projects to perform (although I am still not very high on him).

I wouldn't be surprised to see him play this year, as much help as they need. I don't think the move would have been nmade NOW if there was no chance of him playing fairly soon.

My thoughts exactly, PMR. I was hoping that Hodges would gradually become a force at LB. Who knows? Maybe he'll do that for the Niners.

But even so, the Vikings absolutely have to do something about the OL right now. Every time I see Bridgewater take a sack, I get worried that he won't get back up.

Both the running and passing game will improve if the offensive line gets better. That makes the trade a valid chance to take, in my view.

[Mothman]

And here I thought next season Hodges would be taking over Greenway's spot where I felt he looked more comfortable. Now Kendricks might still do that but on the surface it seems like we will have yet another hole to fill at linebacker in 2016.

Either that or they really like the looks of Cole, Watts, Robinson and Peters.

Who am I forgetting? I left Greenway out because I'm not sure how he figures into their plans after this season, if at all.

[chicagopurple]

I think this was done to replace Berger. I think we will see Easton starting soon. I think that Sully is prolly gonna be gone longer then they are letting on. Berger was doing a crappy job and will likely get Teddy killed. Hopefully, Spielman is just trying to improve the starting line and save Teddy. We are deep at LB and horribly thin at OL....pretty obvious indication for this trade. BUT, the guy they picked up has just bounced to 3 teams in less then a month....not very reassuring that he really is a diamond in the rough. We are deeper then we need at RB also...perhaps we can trade Asiata for more OL help.

[DK Sweets]

Don't forget that Hodges' contract was up at the end of the year. This very well could be a situation where they didn't think he would stay with the team and he wasn't necessary this year, so you might as well try and get something.

[mansquatch]

I think this is a good deal. In 4 games it was obvious that Berger was not the answer at C. He was routinely making mental errors on double A gap blitzes and we know from many sources that he sees a ton of that in practice. Hodges was definitely making strides, but we can see that Kendricks and Barr are the future at LB for this team in a division (and league) where more and more snaps are played in Nickel. We also still have Audie Cole and an aging Chad Greenway. (who I think will retire after this season). There were some other guys on the depth chart who were not terrible, albeit none had shown as much as Hodges.

This is probably a good trade for both teams. The 49ers lost a lot of LB talent last year with two unexpected retirements (Patrick Willis!) at the position. We needed depth on OL, so it is win win. Also, not that it means a hill of beans on the field, but we have had good success with Harvard Centers in the past.

The big risk is if Barr or Kendricks gets hurt, we now have much less depth. I think the risk is probably worth it in the long run. We've added depth at our biggest position of need and lost depth in one of our stronger groups.

Now if we can just find another safety...

[dead_poet]

Either that or they really like the looks of Cole, Watts, Robinson and Peters. Who am I forgetting?

You're forgetting Peters was signed off the practice squad by Houston.

Casey Matthews is on I.R.

I suppose Cole could be MLB or WLB next season with Kendricks in the other spot but I was thinking Hodges was the superior player at WLB and suddenly depth becomes an area of concern after Greenway leaves. Maybe not.