The New York Giants have officially released veteran offensive lineman James Hudson III, a move that provides the team with an additional $5.38 million in salary cap space. This decision, announced by the franchise, comes after a season in which Hudson struggled to secure a consistent role on the offensive line.
Hudson, 27, was signed by the Giants last offseason on a two-year contract worth $12 million, which included $6.01 million guaranteed and a $4.61 million signing bonus. He was brought in to serve as a seasoned swing tackle, expected to offer depth and flexibility along the line.
Performance Challenges Result in Reduced Playing Time
Despite the Giant’s investment, Hudson found it difficult to meet expectations. He initially started the season at left tackle, filling in for Andrew Thomas during Thomas’s recovery from a foot injury. However, Hudson’s performance quickly came under scrutiny from analysts and coaches alike.
According to Pro Football Focus data, Hudson ranked near the bottom among offensive tackles, with a blocking grade of 33.0 that placed him 131st out of 134 ranked players. His Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys was especially problematic; Hudson committed four penalties—three during a single drive—earning him a harsh 17.2 overall grade. This followed a difficult Week 1 as well, where he allowed six quarterback pressures against Washington.
These struggles led the Giants to bench Hudson mid-game in Week 2. Following this, rookie fifth-round pick Marcus Mbow was promoted to the left tackle position to cover for Thomas. Mbow also took on additional responsibilities later in the season, substituting for Jermaine Eluemunor at right tackle in Week 9 and stepping back in for Thomas during the final two games when he suffered a hamstring injury.
Salary Cap Implications and Roster Adjustments
While releasing Hudson frees up $5.38 million in cap space, the team will absorb $2.305 million in dead money as a result. With this maneuver, the Giants’ available salary cap space now stands at an estimated $15.17 million, according to AvandaTimes.
The Giants have also corrected a previous -$304,779 deficit under the NFL’s Top 51 cap rule, improving this figure to roughly $5.08 million. However, these numbers do not yet reflect additional roster moves such as the recent re-signing of wide receiver and return specialist Gunner Olszewski to a veteran minimum deal, or the pay cut accepted by running back Devin Singletary. These transactions are expected to further influence the team’s final salary cap situation heading into the offseason.
