Khaleke Hudson, a special teams standout in Washington, had his best opportunity on defense past season. This will result in another opportunity.
With the Commanders retooling in Dan Quinn’s first offseason, which has brought many of the new head coach’s former charges to Washington, Hudson will go for a chance with the Saints. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, the veteran linebacker will join the Saints on a one-year contract.
This arrangement comes shortly after Hudson visited the Steelers. It is unclear whether the Steelers, who have another ex-Washington linebacker, Cole Holcomb, on their roster, tendered an offer, but Hudson will wind up in the NFC South. The Saints will acquire an experienced special-teamer and a player who had eight starts in 2023.
Hudson, 26, is a Michigan alum who started only four games in his first three seasons. The former fifth-round pick played at least 77% of Washington’s ST snaps in each of those years before breaking into the starting lineup in the last season of the Ron Rivera-Jack Del Rio duo. Despite the fact that this opportunity came for a club in last place defensively, Hudson recorded 74 tackles (five for loss), a sack, and two pass breakups.
Pro Football Focus ranked Hudson 51st overall at the position, putting him in the middle of the pack. Following Jamin Davis’ season-ending injury, Hudson started the Commanders’ final five games, finishing with three TFLs in Week 18.
Last month, the Saints extended Demario Davis’ contract and signed Willie Gay, a four-year starter from the Kansas City Chiefs. With Pete Werner entering his contract year, it appears Hudson has a backup ceiling as a Saint, barring injury. However, his ST work could strengthen New Orleans’ third-phase alternatives as Dennis Allen enters his third season in command.
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