​One offseason after adding Will Campbell and Morgan Moses, the New England Patriots continued to strengthen their offensive tackle corps. While Caleb Lomu naturally drew most of the attention, the first-round pick wasn’t the only addition intended to deepen the unit’s depth. Among the newcomers was a five-year veteran with extensive experience and swing tackle potential: former Browns and Giants tackle James Hudson III.
Name: James Hudson III
Position: Offensive tackle
Jersey number: 51
Opening-day age: 27 (born May 13, 1999)
Measurements: 6’4 3/4”, 313 pounds; 10 5/8” hands; 32 7/8” arms; 80 7/8” wingspan
Athletic testing: 5.34s 40-yard dash; 8.05s 3-cone drill; 4.81s short shuttle; 28 1/2” vertical jump; 8’2” broad jump; 22 bench press reps; 3.83 Relative Athletic Score (RAS)
NFL experience: Cleveland Browns (2021–24), New York Giants (2025), New England Patriots (2026–)
College: Michigan (2017–18), Cincinnati (2019–20)
Hudson emerged as a four-star defensive end recruit from Central Catholic High School in Toledo, Ohio, receiving nearly 20 scholarship offers. His first offers arrived during his junior year, and although he initially committed to Kentucky, rising interest during his senior season led him to decommit and eventually choose Michigan over programs like Alabama, Miami, and Penn State.
At Michigan, Hudson shifted from the defensive line to offensive tackle. This position change limited his playing time early on, as he did not appear in any games during his 2017 freshman season and recorded just three appearances as a sophomore. The lack of on-field opportunities helped spur his decision to transfer after that season, returning to his home state to join Cincinnati in December 2018. He remained at tackle with the Bearcats, but NCAA transfer rules required him to sit out most of his first season with the new team. He came back strong the following year, starting 11 games and earning first-team All-ACC honors, which led him to forgo remaining college eligibility and declare for the NFL.
Hudson was selected 110th overall in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Browns, serving primarily as a backup tackle. He appeared in 50 combined regular-season and playoff games, making 18 starts, with most of his work on the right side but also gaining experience on the left. His versatility made him appealing to the Giants in free agency, and he signed a two-year, $12 million contract in 2025. That run in New York lasted only one two-start season before he joined the Patriots on a one-year, $1.4 million deal in March 2026.
Strengths and playing style: Hudson isn’t typically celebrated for elite testing numbers, but he translates well to the field thanks to his movement in space and his suitability for both zone and man blocking schemes. He can reach his aiming points efficiently, enabling him to adapt to varying blocking tasks and line calls. His experience across multiple teams and schemes has helped him develop the flexibility needed to serve as a reliable swing tackle, capable of stepping in on either the left or right side as needed, while contributing depth and competition along the Patriots’ offensive line.