A former Michigan defensive lineman turned Cincinnati All-Conference tackle who has bounced between three franchises while looking for a permanent home up front.
James Hudson III took an unusual road to the NFL, starting out on the defensive line at Michigan before transferring to Cincinnati and reinventing himself as an offensive tackle. Six years into his pro career, he is still searching for the settled starting role his physical tools suggest he can hold down.
Path to the league
Hudson began his college career at Michigan as a defensive line prospect before transferring to Cincinnati, where he made the full switch to offensive tackle and earned First-Team All-Conference honors as the Bearcats emerged as a College Football Playoff contender. Cleveland drafted him in the fourth round, 110th overall, in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Hudson spent his first four NFL seasons with the Browns as a swing tackle, starting 18 games while filling in whenever injuries hit Cleveland's line. He later signed a two-year deal with the New York Giants before moving on again, giving him experience across multiple organizations and offensive systems.
2025 season recap
Hudson's lone season with the Giants was brief and unsettled. He started just two of the 11 regular-season games he played before New York released him in a cap-saving move, ending his time in New York after a single year.
Sources
- Wikipedia: James Hudson (American football)
- Pro Football Reference: James Hudson
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Offensive Tackle
- Group
- offense
- College
- Cincinnati
- Hometown
- Toledo, OH, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
