The San Francisco 49ers are grappling with challenging decisions concerning their wide receiver roster as they prepare for the upcoming season. Vic Tafur from The Athletic highlighted the team's most significant dilemma as determining which wide receivers to keep, particularly focusing on KhaDarel Hodge, a recent free-agent signing and former Pro Bowler known for his special teams contributions.
Hodge was signed to a one-year contract on August 5, but in Tafur's projection of the 53-man roster, he was ultimately excluded. The 49ers are expected to retain Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, De’Zhaun Stribling, Jordan Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, and Christian Kirk.
Tafur noted that while Hodge is a favorite of Raheem Morris, the team's defensive coordinator, the decision to cut him was influenced by the strong performance of Robinson in training camp and Kirk's recovery from a calf injury.
KhaDarel Hodge, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 210 pounds, began his college career as a quarterback at Alcorn State before transitioning to wide receiver. He achieved All-SWAC honors during his time at Prairie View A&M, where he recorded 48 receptions for 844 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior in 2017.
After going undrafted in 2018, Hodge joined the Los Angeles Rams, where he played in 14 games and participated in a Super Bowl.
Hodge's career has included stints with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, and Atlanta Falcons, where he earned his Pro Bowl selection. Despite not having prolific receiving statistics, Hodge has been a consistent presence on the field, participating in 118 career games and playing every regular-season game from 2021 to 2024.
