The New Orleans Saints are signing former Washington Commanders linebacker and special teamer Khaleke Hudson to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, according to a source. Before deciding to sign with New Orleans, Hudson visited with the Pittsburgh Steelers recently. The 26-year-old was originally a fifth-round selection (162nd overall) by the Commanders in 2020 out of Michigan. In his first four years in the NFL in D.C., Hudson tallied 108 tackles (60 solo), one sack, seven tackles for loss and five QB hits in 58 games played (12 starts). He had a career-high 74 tackles (44 solo), his first career sack and five tackles for loss in 17 games (eight starts) for Washington in 2023. Hudson will most likely serve in a special teams role for the Saints in 2024 and can be avoided in IDP fantasy formats.
Washington Commanders linebacker Khaleke Hudson has been a backup/special-teamer in his first three NFL seasons, but he worked with the starters during spring practices in part because Jamin Davis was recovering from offseason knee surgery and free-agent signee Cody Barton was working with backups as he learned the defense. Hudson impressed the coaching staff and built on his successful start in the regular season finale last year. The 25-year-old played fast this offseason, and his impressive one-game performance in 2022 put the team's quest to improve their linebacker depth on hold. The former fifth-rounder in 2020 has just 34 tackles (16 solo) in 41 games (four starts) over his three seasons in Washington, but he could be in line for a much bigger role in his fourth campaign.
The Commanders re-signed linebacker Khaleke Hudson to a one-year deal. The 25-year-old has played 41 games for Washington since being drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. During that span, he's amassed just 34 total tackles. Hudson was on the verge of entering restricted free agency. However, he'll now be back with the Commanders, although he'll need to be a consistent presence in the lineup to draw IDP consideration.
Redskins Go With Khaleke Hudson At No. 162 Overall
The Washington Redskins selected Michigan outside linebacker Khaleke Hudson with the No. 162 overall pick in the fifth round. He's undersized at 5-foot-11, 224 pounds in the middle of the field but showed good speed at the combine. Hudson hits hard and plays well downhill while defending the run, and he can also show impressive burst when rushing off the edge. He'll give the 'Skins some help in the run game on a rotational basis and can also give them depth off the edge behind second overall pick Chase Young.
Khaleke Hudson
• OLB
•
Saints
