Report: Raiders to release Hudson
Las Vegas loses three-time Pro Bowl center in surprise move
Rodney Hudson, the rock in the middle of the Raiders offensive line since he arrived in free agency in 2015, will be released as part of a makeover of the offensive line.
The news was first reported Tuesday by NFL Media.
The move had nothing to do with salary cap relief either, as the Raiders will take a cap hit of more than $15 million when keeping him would have counted $13.6 million against the cap as one of the NFL’s highest paid centers. In terms of straight salary, Hudson was due $9.55 million in 2021.
The Raiders were committed enough to Hudson to sign him to a three-year extension worth up to $33.75 million in August of 2019 and then restructured the deal — something that’s usually done with players thought to be secure — in March of 2020.
According to an ESPN report, Hudson opted for his release rather than accept a void in a $3.5 million guarantee on this season’s contract.
The day after signing edge rusher Yannick Nkagoue and losing wide receiver Nelson Agholor and running back Devontae Booker on the first day of the free agency negotiating period, the Raiders worked out guard Kyle Long in Las Vegas. Long, the son of Raiders legend and Hall of Famer Howie Long, is making a comeback after sitting out 2020. Long didn’t play more than 10 games in four injury-plagued seasons with the Chicago Bears from 2016-19.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported Long will take additional free agent visits before making a decision.
Hudson’s impending exit leaves left tackle Kolton Miller as the lone remaining piece of a unit that was considered to be one of the best in the NFL in the first half of last season. Since the end of 2020, the Raiders have released left guard Richie Incognito, are prepared to release right guard Gabe Jackson and are trading left tackle Trent Brown to the New England Patriots.
The backup for Hudson is Andre James, who made the Raiders as an undrafted free agent out of UCLA in 2019 and didn’t play a single snap on offense in 2020. Erik Magnuson, a guardcenter who spent time on both the practice squad and the 53-man roster last season, is also on the roster.
If the Raiders look to free agency, the top candidates are Austin Reiter, who started 32 games over the past three seasons for Kansas City before being released, David Andrews, a veteran starter who was cut by New England, and 35-year-old Alex Mack, a who started 179 games for Cleveland and Atlanta since 2009. All would presumably cost considerably less than the $9.5 million that was due Hudson.
Hudson, entering his 11th season, was a Pro Bowl selection three times in his six seasons with the Raiders. He missed only three games during that span and in four of six seasons played every snap.
Following the season, Hudson won the “Commitment to Excellence Award” as voted by his teammates for an unprecedented fourth straight season, an honor which represents “hard work, leadership and excellence on and off the field.”
If there were any whispers about a decline in Hudson’s play in 2020, they were well hidden. The year coach Jon Gruden arrived in 2018, he said of Hudson, “The thing I love about Hudson is when we throw a pass, he runs down to cover, he runs down to see if the receiver needs any help every play. He’s the best center that I’ve coached.”
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