Nov 30, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs center Rodney Hudson (61) before the start of the game against the Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Round Two: Rodney Hudson
Wide receiver has been has been the primary focus of the Chiefs’ offseason needs heading into 2015. But the a strong argument could be made for the offensive line being a bigger problem for the Chiefs heading into 2015.
Consider the projected starters for the 2015 season based on who is currently under contract: Eric Fisher, Jeff Allen, Eric Kush, Zach Fulton, and Donald Stephenson. Four of those five players have yet to play a full season where they’ve produced a 0.0 PFF grade or better. Kush has played only 73 snaps in his NFL career, with 72 of them coming in the San Diego Chargers game in the season finale in 2013. He posted a -3.5 overall grade.
Things get worse if you look beyond 2015. While Allen and Stephenson have yet to prove to be average players by PFF’s grading system, they are still potentially the two best offensive lineman on the team who are under contract. Both Allen and Stephenson are scheduled to be free agents at the end of the 2015 season. When it comes to projecting the 2016 Kansas City Chiefs offensive line, there is nobody 0n the current roster that makes one go, “Okay, well at least we are set at and we don’t have to worry about it.”
There are reasons to hope when it comes to Fisher and Fulton, but there are no guarantees either of those two guys will pan out. As of this moment the Chiefs have five holes on the offensive line that desperately need to be filled.
Hudson solves several issues for the Chiefs should they be able to re-sign him. He gives the Chiefs a guy who we can say ‘solves the center position’ for the short and long term. He adds stability to an offensive line that has gone through a great deal of turnover since the Dick Vermeil days. And he gives the Chiefs a base to build around.
If Hudson walks then the Chiefs are in a great deal of trouble. If it were not for the fact Justin Houston was one of the best players in the NFL, there would be no question that Hudson is the Chiefs’ number one priority heading into the offseason.
It is absolutely critical Hudson re-signs with the Chiefs. No pressure, Mr. Dorsey.
Next: Round Three