Rand Getlin of NFL Media reports that the 49ers have acquired LB Gerald Hodges in a trade with the Vikings.
- Adam Schefter reports that the Vikings will receive a sixth-round pick and C Nick Easton in return for Hodges.
This move opens the door for rookie Eric Kendricks to possibly take over as the team’s starting middle linebacker moving forward. Minnesota also has Audie Cole, who could see some playing time as well.
San Francisco needed to bolster their inside linebacker help, given that their backup options at the position are Shayne Skov and Nick Bellore.
Hodges, 24, is a former fourth round pick of the Vikings back in 2013. He’s in the third year of his four-year, $2.58 million rookie contract that included a $420,108 signing bonus.
Hodges will make base salaries of $585,000 and $675,000 over the remaining two years of the agreement.
This season, Hodges has appeared in four games and recorded 20 tackles and a pass defenses for the Vikings. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 14 inside linebacker out of 51 qualifying players.
Easton, 23, wound up signing on with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Harvard that has played very well during the preseason. In fact, Easton ranked as the No. 1 overall center for the 2015 preseason, according to Pro Football Focus.
Baltimore elected to trade Easton to the 49ers in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.
However, Easton hasn’t been active for a single game this season.
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