The Arizona Cardinals don’t know what is going go happen with center Rodney Hudson, whom they acquired via trade last offseason. He did not report to any part of their offseason program and it is unknown whether he will continue playing.
If he doesn’t return to the team, the Cardinals will be missing of the league’s best at his position.
In Mark Schofield’s rankings of the top centers in the NFL for Touchdown Wire, Hudson comes in at No. 6.
For the past few seasons, Rodney Hudson has been considered among the game’s best players at his position. After four years in Kansas City with the Chiefs, Hudson solidified his status as an elite center with an incredible run of play during his six seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders.
He was traded to the Arizona Cardinals last off-season in a somewhat surprising move, and his first year in the NFC saw perhaps a bit of an adjustment to the new offense. While still an extremely solid player, Hudson was not quite as effective as he was in season’s past, particularly in the run game.
But his pass-blocking game remained on point. Take this snap against the Los Angeles Rams, where he barely gives up an inch up front:
Or here against the Dallas Cowboys, where he helps punish the looper on a twist game up front:
Between the adjustment to a new offense and the injuries that landed him on injured reserve for a few weeks, 2021 had some ups and downs for Hudson. But perhaps year two in the desert sees him back atop this list in 2022.
Hudson was praised consistently last season for his impact on the offensive line and quarterback Kyler Murray.
The hope is that he returns to anchor the offensive line again in 2022. HIs loss would be significant.
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