Redskins select LB Khaleke Hudson with No. 162 overall pick

With the No. 162 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins have selected LB Khaleke Hudson out of Michigan.

The Washington Redskins can solidify a building young core with a strong performance on Day 3 in the 2020 NFL Draft. They’ve already added a weapon on offense in Antonio Gandy-Golden and a solid depth piece on the interior offensive line in Keith Ismael. Now, the Redskins are turning back to the defensive side of the ball, and adding to their linebacking core.

With the No. 162 pick in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Redskins selected Michigan safety Khaleke Hudson. Hudson best projects as a linebacker at the next level, for reasons that will be explained below.

Hudson produced at a solid clip in 2019, logging over 100 total tackles for the Wolverines. As a box safety, his toughness, physicality, and motor stood out as his most prominent traits, but in the safety role, his athletic profile was limited in some respects.

Hudson is a decent athlete, and as a linebacker, his profile would be more promising; at the 2020 NFL Combine, Hudson logged a 4.56 40-yard dash, a 33-inch vertical, and a ten-foot broad jump, all at 5-foot-11, 224. He’s solidly built, and has some freedom in terms of his movement, but he’ll need to keep working if he wants to grow into a consistent contributing role. He has experience as a versatile player, which will certainly help him find his way onto the field.

Hudson has some explosiveness, and his play urgency is a trait of his that compliments that. He has some potential at the next level as he makes the transition to linebacker, and entering a situation where he can learn from former and current linebackers such as Ron Rivera, Jack Del Rio, and Thomas Davis is a great scenario for Hudson. Look for him to contribute on special teams early, and potentially find his way into a defensive role in a crowded position group.

The Redskins now have a bit of a break, as they don’t currently have a sixth-round selection. They could trade for one, but as of now, their next pick rests at No. 216 overall. Sit tight, and stay tuned in case anything changes!