New England Patriots sign ex-New York Giants OL James Hudson

The New England Patriots have signed former New York Giants offensive lineman James Hudson to a one-year deal. The move comes just weeks after the Giants released the veteran tackle as part of their salary-cap management. Hudson joined the Giants last March on a two-year, $12 million contract, expected to provide swing tackle depth behind the team's starters.

However, the 6-foot-5, 313-pound lineman instead struggled to make an impact in his lone season with Big Blue. Limited to 11 percent of offensive snaps, he drew four penalties on just six plays during a Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys and appeared in only 11 games with two starts. The Giants released him ahead of free agency, saving approximately $5.

38 million in cap space while absorbing $2. 3 million in dead money. A fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2021, Hudson had appeared in 60 career games with 19 starts before his brief Giants tenure.

For New York, his disappointing performance highlighted the ongoing challenges in upgrading the offensive line depth through free agency. Hudson now heads to New England, where he will compete for a backup role on a Patriots team seeking additional tackle depth. This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: New England Patriots sign ex-New York Giants OL James Hudson