Khaleke Hudson could have a Matthew Slater-like impact on special teams

The Washington Redskins spent a fifth-round pick on Khaleke Hudson. Here’s why he could become the team’s version of Matthew Slater.

During the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins had two selections. The first one they used on Keith Ismael. The former San Diego State Aztec figures to be a backup center during his first season and may get a chance to take over as a starter once Chase Roullier hits free agency in 2021.

With their second selection, the Redskins made a pick whose role is a bit less defined. That would be Michigan’s Khaleke Hudson. With the Wolverines, Hudson played the Viper position, a hybrid safety, linebacker, and edge player whose main job was to wreak havoc on defense. He was a strong playmaker but is a bit of a positional tweener at the next level given that he has the size of a safety but the athletic ability of a linebacker.

The ‘Skins will likely spend the 2020 season developing Hudson at the linebacker position, as that figures to be his best fit as a pro. But while that happens, he will also play a role on special teams. He figures to be a great asset in this area and was particularly strong in punting situations. He blocked five punts in college, is quick off the line, and eludes blockers well when working to get to the punter.

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So, Hudson has the makings of a special teams ace. But just how high can the ceiling of a core special teams player be? Look no further than the impact that Matthew Slater has had on the New England Patriots.

Slater, a fifth-round pick out of UCLA during the 2008 NFL Draft, has some similarities to Hudson. He didn’t have a true position coming into the NFL — he was viewed as either a safety or a wide receiver, depending on who you asked — but his calling card was on special teams.

Slater is a top gunner, had return ability, and was able to turn himself into one of the better special teams tacklers in the NFL. He has routinely been among the league leaders in that category. Slater is entering his 13th season with the Patriots and there’s no doubt that he has been a key part of their decades-long success on special teams. He has made eight Pro Bowls and was named a first-team All-Pro a whopping five times. That’s absolutely insane.

So, can Hudson make the same type of impact that Slater has? He probably won’t make five All-Pro teams, but he surely has the tools needed to be a game-changer and develop into one of the best special teams players in the league.

Hudson is a different player than Slater; Slater is lighter and more athletic than Hudson and can serve as a return man. While Hudson won’t likely have an impact in that area, he does have immense potential in other areas.

The two things he’ll need to do are as follows. One, generate pressure on punters and notch the occasional block. Two, become a solid tackler on kickoff and punt coverage units. If he can achieve those goals, he will quickly blossom into a special teams contributor and may reach his high ceiling in this facet of the game.

Hudson has the ability needed to do this. He can slip by blockers by beating them to their spots and is a quick, explosive player coming off the line. He just has to improve his tackling in space a bit to avoid missing stops due to improper angling. But if he can be an impact player on teams while figuring things out a bit on defense, he will be worth his fifth-round draft status.

Next. Evaluating the Redskins draft picks - LB Khaleke Hudson. dark

It will be interesting to see how the Redskins ultimately deploy Hudson both on special teams and on defense. As high as his ceiling is on the defensive side of the ball as a run-stopping linebacker and edge rusher, he truly does have the skills needed to be one of the league’s best special teams players.

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