The Cleveland Browns enter 2025 NFL free agency with some positive momentum. DE Myles Garrett is back with a huge extension and OL Joel Bitonio has put off retirement for at least a season.
When free agency unofficially kicks off with the legal tampering period, the Browns could have some money to spend but that doesn’t mean there are free agents deserving of big contracts. Cleveland’s roster also has a ton of free agents pending this offseason including seven on the offensive line:
Jedrick Wills
Nick Harris
Michael Dunn
Germain Ifedi
Hakeem Adeniji
Geron Christian
James Hudson III
It is the final name on that list, Hudson, that drew the attention of Albert Breer as he put out his NFL free agency primer:
Along those lines, it’s always hard to find bargains with the big guys. But James Hudson III is one to keep an eye on—he started 17 games over the past four years in Cleveland, was developed as a fourth-round pick by Bill Callahan, and is still just 25 years old. So he won’t break the bank but might get a nice deal to go start somewhere. And maybe a bigger one than former first-round pick Jedrick Wills Jr., once the Browns’ left tackle and now a free agent with a knee issue that’s hurting his value.
Hudson underwent surgery during Week 6 of last season after hurting his shoulder the previous week. The former fourth-round pick has played in 49 games in his four seasons, including 17 starts, on both sides of the line.
While Wills seems unlikely to return after struggling through most of his five seasons, the Browns could see competition to bring back the versatile Hudson under new offensive line coach Mike Bloomgren. The rest of the free agent linemen could return depending on how the new coach sees their film as none are expected to be offered more than minimum contracts this offseason.
Are you surprised to see Hudson’s name thrown out as a bargain option during NFL free agency? Should the Browns be trying to bring him back?
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