New England Patriots GM Eliot Wolf cannot think the job is done along the offensive trenches with the addition of free agent offensive tackle James Hudson. Sure, Hudson is versatile enough to play on either side of center, but he's not consistent enough to be a hedge for Will Campbell's seemingly stalled development.
The Patriots just signed a player who infamously committed four penalties on one drive for the New York Giants during Week 2 of the season against the Dallas Cowboys. The Giants lost that game 40-37. It was the first time in a quarter of a century that a player had committed four penalties on a single drive.
That doesn't make for an answer at either tackle position. Morgan Moses and Marcus Bryant do enough on the right side, while the blindside will need a better answer than Campbell and Hudson. Even if Hudson and New York may just have been a bad fit from the start, with Brian Daboll's regime seemingly never designed to accomplish much. The thing is, offensive line coach Carmen Bricillo was a highlight of an otherwise mundane coaching staff.
James Hudson Was a Massive Disappointment on the Giants
It cannot be stressed enough that Hudson was a massive misfire from Joe Schoen and the Giants' front office. Coming in on a two-year, $12 million contract, New York was hoping to get a switchblade chess piece who could keep Russell Wilson and, eventually, Jaxson Dart, upright. Beyond the four-penalty nightmare, Hudson didn't provide that.
In Week 1 against the Washington Commanders, Hudson gave up six pressures and graded out with a 47.2 pass-block grade and a 55 overall during the 21-6 Giants loss. Even in his 60 career appearances, 19 of them starts and nearly all of them coming with the Cleveland Browns, Hudson carries a career PFF grade that's a tick over 50.
To say he didn't show potential in Cleveland would be dishonest. Hudson earned $6 million a season from the Giants for a reason. He was a rock at multiple positions when the Browns were hit with bad injury luck.
Still, the problems the Pats have protecting Drake Maye's blind side have not been solved this offseason. Not on paper, at least. New England's fanbase would feel a lot better if there were more than a boom-or-bust candidate behind Campbell as he continues his transition into capably starting at left tackle in the NFL.