Browns Roster: 5 veterans who could be pushed off roster by 2021 draft picks
By Sam Penix
4. KhaDarel Hodge
To be clear, the Browns should keep six wide receivers and Hodge should make the team. That’s not a guarantee, however, since the team kept only five WRs around in 2020. The natural evolution of the offense should lend itself to more pass plays, and Hodge’s special teams prowess will be even more valuable with the departure of Tavierre Thomas.
Every single one of Hodge’s 11 catches in 2020 went for first downs, and he made some very difficult catches in key situations. Each and every target mattered, and as a WR5 or WR6, a team really cannot ask for a better player than Hodge.
His contract is a non-guaranteed $2.1 million this season, and while the addition of Anthony Schwartz and the return of Odell Beckham Jr. pushes him further down the depth chart, Hodge is still a valuable member of the team.
It would be a surprise to see him cut, but it isn’t impossible. If that happens for an extra tight end or a linebacker who will almost never see the field, that would seem like a huge mistake. Based on his performance in his limited opportunities, Hodge deserves a larger role than he’ll get in Cleveland, but in the meantime, it’s great to have such a reliable option in case of emergency.