The one thing we can't say about the San Francisco 49ers is that they are sitting back twiddling their thumbs as the team continues to put up horrendous performances on the field.
The last-place team acquired a solid young linebacker in Gerald Hodges from the Minnesota Vikings for backup center Nick Easton and a future sixth-round pick.
Hodges, 24, was a fourth-round pick of the Vikings back in 2013. In two-plus seasons with the team, he appeared on 29 games (10 starts), recording 89 tackles, eight passes defended and an interception. The Penn State product graded out as the 10th-best 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He had started three of the Vikings four games this season prior to the trade.
Hodges should eventually take over for Michael Wilhoite as one of San Francisco's starting inside linebackers next to NaVorro Bowman. That in and of itself is an upgrade.
As it relates to Easton, he was acquired by San Francisco from the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional seventh-round pick last month. Considering he wasn't able to latch on to a team with one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, Minnesota can't be expecting much from the center. Though, it did acquire a future sixth-round pick in the deal.