Buffalo Bills: Gerald Hodges drastically improves lacking linebackers
By Brenden Deeg
The Buffalo Bills inked Linebacker Gerald Hodges to a one-year deal on Thursday, but what does the move means for the defense?
On Thursday, the Buffalo Bills successfully brought in former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Gerald Hodges on a one-year deal. The New Jersey native was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft. It took a year for Hodges to crack the starting lineup for the Vikings, as he rarely played in 2013.
However, he made seven starts for the Vikings in 2014, executing 66 tackles and one interception. Hodges was a key contributor in then-new head coach Mike Zimmer’s hard-nose defense that season. After losing his starting spot in Minnesota, the Vikings traded Gerald Hodges to the 49ers for center Nick Easton and a sixth-round pick.
His first season in San Francisco was rather disappointing. With a mere four starts, he only registered 50 tackles with no sacks. Turning it around during the 2016 season, Hodges appeared in 15 games, making 12 starts and producing 83 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions.
Hodges was a key cog in the 49ers defense all season, and was ranked as the 8th best inside linebacker in 2016 according to pro football focus. He took his time during free agency and visited with several teams before signing with the Bills on Thursday.
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The signing of Hodges could turn out to be the best free agent signing the Bills have made all offseason. The Bills were eerily quiet in free agency this offseason. The signing of Corey “Philly” Brown was arguably their most significant free agent addition before Hodges.
It’s rare for any team to get a player of Hodges capability so late in free agency. Not only is he coming off a great season, but Hodges is also just 26 years old. His best years could well be ahead of him.
The Bills have been actively trying to find linebacker depth all offseason after their leader in tackles for 2016, Zach Brown, left for Washington in free agency. They drafted Matt Millano in the fifth round out of Boston College, and Tanner Vallejo out of Boise State in the sixth round. They also re-signed Lorenzo Alexander, a Pro Bowler last season, who is the leader of this defense.
With new head coach Sean McDermott’s arrival, it’s a near certainty that his 4-3 defense with follow. I expect Hodges to step right in and be the weak side starting linebacker for the Bills. One thing that is going to be interesting with this signing is a potential impact to the future of Preston Brown with the Bills.
Brown’s job is on the hot seat at the middle linebacker positon after a mediocre season with the Bills. If any of the rookie linebackers shine during training camp, and the Bills see drastic improvement in Reggie Ragland’s recovery from injury, the signing of Hodges could mean the end of Brown in Buffalo.
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Overall, this is a great late offseason signing by the Bills. It is a low risk, high reward type of acquisition that can only benefit the team. If Gerald Hodges can replicate his 2016 season with the 49ers, this is exactly what the Bills need as they are in desperate need of depth at the linebacker position.