New York Giants free agency: Giants - finally - sign a real swing tackle

After being burned two seasons in a row by not having an adequate backup swing tackle on the roster, the New York Giants appear to have finally learned their lesson.

The Giants have reportedly agreed to terms with James Hudson III, who spent the first four years of his career with the Cleveland Browns.

Hudson, who will be 26 in May, is a 6-foot-5, 313-pounder who was a fourth-round pick by the Browns in 2021. He has played in 49 regular season games with 17 starts.

Hudson has experience playing both sides. Per Pro Football Focus, Hudson has played 1,113 snaps at right tackle and 278 snaps at left tackle.

Per Mike Garafolo, Hudson’s contract is a two-year, $12 million deal with an additional $4 million in incentives.

Why did the Giants sign him?

The Giants have watched star left tackle Andrew Thomas miss significant time with injuries in each of the past two seasons. In both of those seasons, the primary backup plan was to move Josh Ezeudu — drafted as a guard — out to left tackle.

That plan failed miserably in both seasons, leaving the Giants scrambling for answers.

Hudson is by no means a great player. Jared Mueller of SB Nation’s Dawgs By Nature, which covers the Browns, called him “inconsistent.”

Still, he is an actual tackle with a fair amount of experience playing on both sides. That has to be a step toward building better depth. Maybe one that comes two years later than it should have, but better late than never.

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