Steelers Host Local LB Khaleke Hudson on Free Agent Visit

The Pittsburgh Steelers hosted former Washington Commanders linebacker and McKeesport native Khaleke Hudson for a free agent visit at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on Tuesday, according to a report by Aaron Wilson of KPRC-2 TV.

Hudson, 26, is entering his fourth NFL season and is a free agent for the first time, having spent all of his four years with the Washington Commanders, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

A 5-foot-11, 220-pound defender listed at linebacker by the Commanders, Hudson has lined up all over, playing outside linebacker, inside linebacker, box safety, and even in the slot in his time in Washington. 

Hudson also has been a key contributor on special teams, appearing in over 1,200 snaps over four seasons, and playing in five of the six phases.

The 2023 season was his most productive. He played in 17 games and made a career-high eight starts, after he had started just four games in his first three seasons combined.. Hudson recorded 74 tackles, five for a loss, two quarterback hits, one sack and defended two passes.

The Steelers are set to bring back three of their top four linebackers from the 2023 season in Elandon Roberts, Cole Holcomb and Mark Robinson, and also signed big-time free agent Patrick Queen from the Baltimore Ravens, so they don’t have an obvious need at the position.

Holcomb is recovering from a mid-season knee surgery and may not be ready for the start of the season. The changes to the kickoff rules will likely emphasize more bigger-bodied special teamer and fewer speed-first players on that phase of special teams, which could lead to the Steelers keeping an extra linebacker around instead of another defensive back or wide receiver.

A three-star athlete coming out of McKeesport in the Class of 2016, Hudson committed to Michigan. After playing just six games as a safety in 2016, Hudson started his final three seasons at Michigan as their Viper hybrid outside linebacker. In 114 games with the Wolverines, Hudson had 225 tackles, including 101 as a senior. He also had 23 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, two interceptions and 14 passes defended.

At the 2020 NFL Combine, Hudson ran a 4.56 40-yard dash and performed 30 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, showing a nice combination of speed and strength for a somewhat undersized linebacker.