The San Francisco 49ers are bringing in KhaDarel Hodge, an undrafted free agent from the 2018 class, and while he is a familiar face to former coach Raheem Morris, this move lights a fire under some other guys on that roster. Hodge spent his last four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, and standing at 6’2″, 210 pounds, he is coming off a quiet couple of years with only three receptions in 2025 and seven in 2024. Prior to that, he notched 14 catches for 232 yards in 2023 and 13 catches for 202 yards in 2022. He lined up mostly on the outside for the Falcons.
A “Camp Body” With Big Ripples
Let’s be real, Hodge is likely nothing more than a camp body for the Niners, designed to give the slated six or so receivers some relief during practice. But his signing still matters because it shifts things for other players. His presence on the outside means guys like De’Zhaun Stribling, or maybe even Deebo Samuel, can focus on getting more slot reps. It is all about optimizing practice and getting players into positions where they can excel. The depth chart is a puzzle, and even a small piece like Hodge can change the entire picture.
Roster Spots Are on the Line, Big Time
This move throws a spotlight directly onto players fighting for those final wideout roster spots, making the next couple of weeks absolutely critical. Jacob Cowing and Junior Bergen are squarely in that battle, and they are going to need to prove they can win both inside and outside. Cowing currently holds the upper hand at punt returner, which could be his ticket to a roster spot, at least for now. Here is the kicker though: if both Cowing and Bergen show out, Christian Kirk might be the odd man out, even if it is due to an injury. On the flip side, Demarcus Robinson has been a huge beneficiary of the injuries at wide receiver, going from a guy wondering if he would even make the roster to potentially playing starter-level snaps. It is wild how quickly things can change in this league. We will all be watching to see if Hodge becomes more than just a practice helper, but either way, the stakes for these receivers just got a whole lot higher.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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