Rodney Hudson Agrees to Deal with Raiders

Source: Rob Carr/Getty Images

The Oakland Raiders have a boatload of cap space this offseason, and are looking to actually use it, unlike last year. Today sources say that they have agreed to a deal with center Rodney Hudson that is worth $44.5 million over five years, making Hudson the highest paid center in the NFL. $8.9 million per year is a lot to spend on a center, but that center was ranked number three by Pro Football Focus last year. The Raiders are certainly trying to improve an offensive line that let rookie quarterback Derek Carr get annihilated by opposing defenses last year. Carr definitely showed some promise last year, so protecting him and letting him develop without getting destroyed will be huge for the Raiders.

This signing comes after the Raiders missed out on two of the biggest names in free agency after Randall Cobb went back to Green Bay and Ndamukong Suh reportedly signed with Miami. Hudson, however underhyped he was, is definitely worth a big money contract. Hudson is also still only 25, so the Raiders will have him locked up during the prime of his career.

The Raiders are surely still looking to make a couple more big splashes in Free Agency to perhaps shore up their secondary or improve the explosiveness of their offense. Now that Maurice Jones-Drew retired, the Raiders will be left with Latavius Murray and Darren McFadden. If Murray can step up and play to his full potential every game, then maybe they won’t need another running back. However, something tells me that they will definitely be looking in free agency to get one, now that they have Hudson blocking up the middle for them. Perhaps a running back like Stevan Ridley, who has shown his ability to be a starting back, could be a good fit. Or if they want to go after a wide receiver, they could still try to make a late push for Torrey Smith or go for one of the lower level high risk high reward players such as Kenny Britt. If the Raiders play their cards right, and draft well, things could really be looking up for them next season, and it all starts with Rodney Hudson.