The Patriots are signing free-agent offensive tackle James Hudson III, in accordance with the NFL Network.
Hudson is a candidate to change into the group’s new swing tackle, a serious want given the Patriots misplaced backup left tackle Vederian Lowe in free company and starting proper tackle Morgan Moses is getting into his age-35 season.
Hudson has began 19 of 60 profession sport appearances cut up between the Giants and Browns. He spent final season in New York, the place he primarily performed left tackle within the 11 video games he served as a backup. Hudson additionally performed left tackle throughout his last 12 months in Cleveland. He made three begins that season, which adopted a career-high seven of 16 sport appearances at proper tackle in 2023.
Hudson has graded out as a poor cross protector at Pro Football Focus for many of his profession. He’s thought to be a greater run-blocker than pass-blocker, with seven allowed pressures in simply 61 pass-blocking snaps final 12 months. Hudson additionally allowed a strain fee larger than 10% within the 2023 season, when he performed virtually half of Cleveland’s offensive snaps beneath legendary offensive line coach Billl Callahan.
Hudson initially entered the league as a fourth-round select of Cincinnati in 2021. The 6-foot-5, 313-pounder now joins Moses, starting left tackle Will Campbell and former practice-squad members Andrew Rupich, Lorenz Metz and Sebastian Gutierrez on the group’s depth chart.
The Patriots are nonetheless anticipated so as to add an offensive tackle in subsequent month’s draft.
