If you ask anyone within the Arizona Cardinals about the impact that center Rodney Hudson has had on the team and the offense, you will realize how big it has been. However, that is not largely recognized around the league.
But Doug Farrar for Touchdown Wire put together a midseason all-underrated offensive team and included Hudson on that list.
The Raiders traded Hudson in March as part of their apparent plan to remove most of the talent from their front five, and Hudson asked for that move because he was tired of the team’s lack of success. The Cardinals wisely swooped in and nabbed one of the NFL’s toughest and best centers, and all it took was a third-round pick to do it. Arizona also got a seventh-round pick in trade. He’s missed some time this season with a rib injury, but it’s clear that Arizona’s offense is much better when Hudson is the man in the middle. In 380 snaps this season, Hudson has not allowed a pressure of any kind — no sacks, no quarterback hits, no quarterback hurries. He’s also an integral part of Arizona’s renewed run game, and he’s allowed Kyler Murray to take deeper drops in the passing game, which has also led to a more complex and diversified offense from a formational and conceptual perspective.
Hudson has solidified the middle of the line. Josh Jones, playing at guard for the first time, was solid with Hudson next to him.
However, he doesn’t even get much love analytically. His overall PFF grade is 61.8, which ranks only 18th among centers.
Hudson isn’t underrated in Arizona. He might be on a bigger scale, but a big reason why the offense is so much better is because of Hudson’s play and leadership.
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