Tag: khadarel hodge

Lions vs. Vikings: Best and worst PFF grades from Week 5

Detroit Lions best and worst players through PFF shows the highlights and struggles against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 5

Another kick to the heart for the Detroit Lions after the Minnesota Vikings stole the victory right out of the Lions’ grasp with a last-minute field goal to drop the Lions record to 0-5 to start the season.

On top of another loss, the Lions lose yet another player, WR Quintez Cephus, to a potentially season-ending injury, making everyone wonder how the Lions can have this much bad luck. But you can tell the players are fighting to the last second and giving their all, making these losses so tough it brings Dan Campbell to tears.

It will only be a matter of time before the Lions get their first victory, and many of these players will be out to help achieve that win.

Here are this week’s PFF’s best and worst players for the Lions in Week 5.

Where did they go? Keeping up with ex-Browns around the league

Keeping track of what happened with some former Cleveland Browns players this offseason as they moved around the NFL

Now that the 53-man rosters are set around the league, it’s time to keep up with where some former Browns players from the 2020 season or the 2021 preseason wound up.

Colby Gossett: Another player claimed off waivers after the Browns cut the offensive lineman earlier this week, Gossett is now in Atlanta. There are some projections where Gossett could get immediate playing time for the Falcons, who have some injury issues on the OL.

KhaDarel Hodge: The popular wideout and special teams star was claimed off waivers by the Detroit Lions. Former Browns GM John Dorsey, who brought Hodge to Cleveland, is part of the Lions front office now too.

Karl Joseph: A starting safety in Cleveland last year, Joseph was cut by the Las Vegas Raiders. He is now on the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad, and there is ample speculation he will be elevated quickly to the Steelers’ active roster once he clears COVID-19 protocols.

Terrance Mitchell: “Money” Mitchell is one of the starting cornerbacks for the Houston Texans. Mitchell signed in Houston as a free agent after three seasons in Cleveland.

Larry Ogunjobi: Ogunjobi defected from the Browns to the rival Bengals. The defensive tackle signed a one-year early in free agency. Ogunjobi is one of the Bengals top defensive starters.

Sheldrick Redwine: The young safety signed with the New York Jets right after being waived by the Browns. The Jets seem pretty excited to have Redwine in their secondary, too.

Sheldon Richardson: The versatile defensive lineman returns to Minnesota, where he played before coming to Cleveland in 2019. Richardson will start for the revamped Vikings defense.

Kyle Lauletta: Cleveland’s No. 3 QB dating back to last season was among the final cuts. He quickly signed in Jacksonville on the Jaguars’ practice squad.

Kendall Lamm: Lamm is playing the same role for the Tennessee Titans that he did in two years in Cleveland. He’s the top reserve offensive tackle. The Titans currently have COVID-19 issues that would have Lamm starting if the season began today.

Tavierre Thomas: The CB is in Houston, doing what he does best – making things happen on special teams. He is also Mitchell’s backup at outside CB on the Texans depth chart.

B.J. Goodson: Cleveland’s leading tackler in 2020, Goodson is still a free agent. The veteran linebacker remains unsigned.

Tae Davis: The LB and special teams fixture from 2019-2020 landed on injured reserve with the Houston Texans. He just recently had foot surgery.

Andrew Sendejo: Sendejo started 14 games for Cleveland in 2020 at safety. The veteran, who turns 34 this week, remains unsigned.

Olivier Vernon: Another veteran starter from last season, Vernon is also still unsigned.

Robert Jackson: Jackson was one of the earlier cuts for the Browns this summer. The cornerback, who primarily played special teams in Cleveland, is now on the Raiders’ practice squad.

Vincent Taylor: Taylor is climbing up the NFL ladder. A reserve defensive tackle in Cleveland, he’s now the starting “rush” tackle for the Texans.

Dontrell Hilliard: Yet another former Browns player who wound up in Houston, Hilliard was waived by the Texans and took an injury settlement. The running back is now a free agent.

New Lions WR KhaDarel Hodge restructures his contract, takes overall pay cut

Hodge lowered his overall compensation but picked up some guaranteed money for 2021

New Detroit Lions wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge has already helped his new franchise out. Hodge has agreed to restructure his contract in a move that frees up more than $1 million in salary cap room for the Lions.

Hodge, acquired this week when Detroit claimed him off waivers from the Cleveland Browns, was originally due to make $2.13 million in 2021. But none of that money was guaranteed. his new deal with Detroit drops the salary figure to just $920,000. Detroit also gave Hodge a bonus of $80,000 that is fully guaranteed, pushing his overall compensation for 2021 to $1 million.

The move frees up some more cap space for the Lions to either use this year or — more likely — carry over into 2022 and spend on more lucrative free agents. Hodge’s deal length did not change; the 26-year-old wideout will still be a free agent after the season.

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Lions claim WR KhaDarel Hodge and kicker Austin Seibert off waivers

Hodge and Seibert join the Lions as successful waiver claims

There are two new members of the Detroit Lions following the initial waiver wire claim period on Wednesday. The Lions were awarded successful waiver claims on wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge and kicker Austin Seibert.

Hodge is a veteran who spent the last two seasons in Cleveland. Prior to his BRowns tenure, Hodge played for the Los Angeles Rams and was brought there as an undrafted free agent by now-Lions GM Brad Holmes, who was the Rams’ scouting director at the time.

Seibert was also on the 2019 Cleveland Browns as a fifth-round pick out of Oklahoma. He lost his job in 2020 after a rough outing and subsequently replaced Randy Bullock in Cincinnati. He now replaces Bullock, who was cut on Tuesday, in Detroit.

Both were featured in our 20 players cut by other teams the Lions should consider adding to the roster listing.

The corresponding roster moves have yet to be announced.

Assessing KhaDarel Hodge’s trade value if Browns move on from him

If the Browns decide to move on from their preseason GOAT receiver, what could his trade value be? What are the positives and negatives of Hodge?

As noted throughout the offseason, the Cleveland Browns are going to have some difficult decisions to make with their talented, deep roster. The team can only have a 53-man roster as of Tuesday, 8/21/21 at 4PM EST. Between then and now, the Browns can, and probably will, make some moves.

Part of the struggle for Cleveland is that their offensive side of the ball may be overloaded with players that deserve to make the roster while the defense may be lacking. Despite the defense lacking the same level of talented depth as the offense, the Browns will need to keep less talented defenders to fill the roster properly.

One offensive player that may be on the roster bubble is KhaDarel Hodge. Brad Stainbrook has reported that Hodge will not make the roster due to his salary and role:

 

It is no surprise that the team will have tough decisions and some of them may be unpopular. If Cleveland really is moving on from Hodge, a trade could be possible.

To assess Hodge’s value in a trade, we must look at both the positives and negatives for a team acquiring him via trade.

Positives

  • Has shown ability as a receiver throughout training camp and preseason games.
  • Talented special teams gunner.
  • Should be available for cheap.
  • NFL experience: 39 games
  • Productive with few targets in 2020.
    • 11 receptions, all led to first downs.
  • Low maintenance, not expecting to be used as a #1 or #2.
  • Trading for him guarantees him instead of hoping to claim him.

Negatives

  • As noted by Stainbrook, over $2 million contract for a special teamer and backup receiver.
  • Only a one-year contract, becomes an unrestricted free agent.
  • Only 17 career receptions and zero touchdowns.
  • Browns will likely waive Hodge, can put a claim in for him.
    • Not a lot of teams will put in a claim for him due to contract and production.
  • How much of his preseason is due to Browns offense and playing backups?

Results

While Browns fans and media have been, rightfully, impressed with Hodge’s preseason performances, his trade value is relatively low. That could lead Cleveland to keep the receiver and special teamer or, out of respect for the player (and maybe as a favor to his agent) to waive him.

If Andrew Berry is able to make a deal for Hodge, the team can expect no more than a fifth-round pick but more likely a sixth. Berry may also look to acquire a defensive player instead of a draft pick, using a strength (receiver) to bolster another unit.

Watch: Baker Mayfield perfect TD pass to KhaDarel Hodge

Mayfield with the perfect pass to Hodge for a TD. Hodge continues to put on a show while he fights for a roster spot.

The Cleveland Browns kicked off their final preseason game of the year against the Atlanta Falcons. Baker Mayfield and a select number of Browns starters have seen the field so far.

The Falcons, on the other hand, have sat some of their key players like Matt Ryan, Calvin Ridley and Grady Jarrett. Rookie tight end Kyle Pitts looked good on a big play for Atlanta early before their first drive stalled.

Early in the game, Cleveland played well with a good screen, a few solid runs and a couple of passes from Mayfield.

On their second possession, Mayfield found KhaDarel Hodge a couple of times including this perfectly placed throw for a touchdown:

 

Mayfield’s ability to flip his hips and get the ball exactly where he wanted was impressive in what could be his final play in the preseason.

Video: Highlight catch by KhaDarel Hodge for a TD

A highlight touchdown for Hodge for the game’s opening score today.

As the Cleveland Browns face off with the New York Giants, we will have some highlights for you. The Browns started their scoring with a touchdown pass from Case Keenum to KhaDarel Hodge shortly after the same play couldn’t connect with Rashard Higgins.

Hodge, fighting for a roster spot in a very good offense, has been an important special teams player for the Browns for a couple of years. The team valued him enough to make him a restricted free agent. Hodge signed his restricted tender for over $2 million for one season.

With this touchdown grab, Hodge shows his ability as a receiver as well:

 

Going into the second quarter, the Browns and Giants are tied 7 – 7. We will add highlights as they come throughout the game.

Browns extend tender offer to restricted free agent WR KhaDarel Hodge

Browns extend tender offer to restricted free agent WR KhaDarel Hodge

The Cleveland Browns will hold onto wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge for the 2021 season. The team has extended the restricted free agent the necessary contract tender offer to keep Hodge in Cleveland for another season.

The Browns needed to extend a tender offer to keep Hodge from becoming an unrestricted free agent. He will earn $2.183 million with the original round tender offer, a figure set by the NFL. Hodge was an undrafted free agent originally signed by the Los Angeles Rams before the Browns claimed him off waivers.

Hodge caught 11 passes for 180 yards in nine games in 2020, and he’s also the best-blocking wideout on the team. Hodge has also made a name for himself as a special teams standout. That’s important because the Browns did not extend an RFA tender offer to CB Tavierre Thomas, who plays almost exclusively on special teams.

Browns activate WR KhaDarel Hodge from reserve/COVID-19 list

Hodge’s activation leaves only LG Joel Bitonio on the COVID-19 list

The Browns welcomed back another player from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday. Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge was activated off the list and returned to the team facilities.

Hodge missed the Browns win over the Steelers in the wild-card round after testing positive for COVID-19. The wideout and special teams standout also missed the Week 16 game against the New York Jets as a close contact of someone who had tested positive, though he did play in Week 17 against the Steelers in between stints on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

In his second season with the Browns, Hodge caught 11 passes for 180 yards. All 11 of his receptions resulted in first downs.

Hodge’s activation leaves just left guard Joel Bitonio on the list for active players. Bitonio can still be activated at any time before Sunday afternoon’s game in Kansas City. Cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson came off the list on Wednesday.

Updated Browns COVID-19 status for the divisional round

There are still players and coaches who could return for Sunday’s game

The Browns are preparing to face the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC divisional round on Sunday. More players and coaches who have been sidelined with the team’s COVID-19 outbreak continue to become available by the day.

On Wednesday, the Browns activated Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Both cornerbacks missed the last two weeks after testing positive for the coronavirus.

There are still some players and coaches whose statuses remain up in the air.

Players still on the reserve/COVID-19 list

Left guard Joel Bitonio

Wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge

Both Bitonio and Hodge have the potential to be activated before Sunday’s game, but it is not certain that will happen. They were placed on the reserve list on Jan. 5th, which means the earliest they can be activated from their positive tests is Friday, Jan. 15th.

Coaches still sidelined

Head coach Kevin Stefanski

Passing game coordinator and defensive backs coach Jeff Howard

Assistant offensive line coach Scott Peters

Tight ends coach Drew Petzing

All the coaches could return as early as Thursday, based on the timeline of the positive testing. They will each need to clear the COVID-19 protocols established by the NFL and NFLPA, which do carry over to the coaching staff as well.

Offensive line coach Bill Callahan has cleared the protocols and is back with the team.

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