Just one day after it seemed the Las Vegas Raiders would be releasing center Rodney Hudson, the Arizona Cardinals swooped in and sent Jon Gruden’s bunch a third-round pick in April’s 2021 NFL draft for the star center’s services.
The Cardinals receive a seventh-rounder in the deal as well.
Raiders are trading C Rodney Hudson and 7th-round pick to Arizona for a 3rd-round pick, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2021
Hudson signed a three-year, $33.4 million extension in August 2019, a deal that made him the league’s highest-paid center. At 31 years old, he remains one of the league’s best players at his position. According to Pro Football Focus, Hudson’s allowed just three sacks in more than 3,400 passing snaps during his tenure with Las Vegas.
Hudson would’ve been one of the hottest commodities on the open market had he been set free. The Cardinals paid a significant price for him — the No. 80 pick — but eliminated any risk they’d lose him to a higher bidder.