It took the Raiders making Rodney Hudson the NFL’s highest-paid center in 2016 for him to head to his first Pro Bowl. That was when everyone finally realized how good he is. Two years in the Pro Bowl and then everyone seems to have forgotten again. So, Gil Brandt thought they should be reminded.
Brandt put a list of the 12 most underrated NFL players right now and Hudson made the list.
Hudson didn’t receiver recognition as an All-Pro in his first eight NFL seasons, but the Raiders knew his value when they made him the NFL’s highest-paid center in August, handing him a three-year, $33 million extension. Through Week 13, Hudson hadn’t allowed a single sack or quarterback hit in 359 pass-blocking snaps. He’s also helped pave running back Josh Jacobs’ path to the front of the Offensive Rookie of the Year race.
Centers can be difficult to judge. After all, if they are doing their job well, you tend to forget they’re even there. That’s part of the job description. Call out defenses pre-snap, have a steady hand, and don’t let your man beat you and blow up the play. Rinse and repeat. Hudson consistently performs those duties as good as any center in the league.
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