With the 2019 NFL season set to officially begin, the Oakland Raiders managed to make Rodney Hudson the highest-paid center in the league with a three-year, $33.4 million contract extension.
The Raiders put an emphasis on shoring up the protection for quarterback Derek Carr after the hounding pressure he faced during the 2018 campaign. They spared no expense by also making Trent Brown the highest-paid tackle in the NFL while signing guard Richie Incognito to a bit of a prove-it deal.
Oakland has clearly decided to keep the spending spree going before the start of the regular season. It is safe to say that Hudson is excited for the 2019 NFL season to begin now that he has been rewarded with some long-term security.
Hudson shared a message for Raiders fans regarding the upcoming season,via the team’s official Twitter:
Rodney has a short and sweet message for #RaiderNation: He’s ready to work. pic.twitter.com/MIPxmycK6I
— Oakland Raiders (@Raiders) August 30, 2019
It is easy to see why Hudson is looking forward to getting the season started. His new deal will pay him an annual salary of $11.13 million a season with $24.4 million in guarantees.
This is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes with ensuring the health of their franchise quarterback moving forward. The Raiders took some hits with the departure of Kelechi Osemele this offseason along with the injury to Gabe Jackson and are hoping to see their investment pay off with a potential resurgence on offense led by Carr in 2019.
It is no secret that the offensive line struggled mightily amidst the new changes that were made last season. Regardless, Hudson still maintained his status as one of the best centers in football while serving as the anchor of this front. More importantly, the durability he has displayed during that time makes him well-deserving of the lucrative deal.
Although he may be entering his ninth season in the league, he is still at the top of his game after earning Pro Bowl honors in two of the last three years. Hudson will be looking to make his way back now that Oakland has put together a much stronger supporting cast alongside him.
The post Raiders Video: Rodney Hudson Has Message For Fans After Signing Contract Extension appeared first on Raiders Nation.