Gerald Hodges to 49ers: Latest Trade Details, Comments and Reaction

The Minnesota Vikings reportedly traded linebacker Gerald Hodges to the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday, per NFL Network's Rand Getlin. The Vikings confirmed the move, announcing they acquired backup center Nick Easton and a sixth-round pick as part of the deal.

The 49ers have still yet to fully recover from the offseason retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland. Both were among San Francisco's best defensive players in 2014, and their absences have left huge holes in the team.

Nobody would argue Hodges is as good as Borland or Williams, but he should help strengthen the Niners defense. He has made three starts this year and appeared in all four of the Vikings' games, making 20 combined tackles.

Pro Football Focus' Nathan Jahnke believes Hodges offers solid value to San Francisco:

The 49ers made out pretty well, considering ESPN.com's Adam Caplan reported earlier in the day they planned on waiving Easton outright. Instead, they flipped him for a player who, in the eyes of the San Francisco Chronicle's Eric Branch, provides much-needed experience to the linebacking corps:

Meanwhile, Easton gives the Vikings a little more security at center. According to Pro Football Focus, starter Joe Berger has been the fifth-best center in the league this year, but Zac Kerin was an undrafted free agent and might be best utilized as a guard.    

Beyond Berger, Minnesota had precious few options at the position, which is no longer the case following the addition of Easton.

This trade doesn't radically alter either team's fortunes in 2015, but each side appears to have addressed minor problems in its squad.