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3 Cleveland Browns whose stock dropped after preseason Week 1

By Greg Newland

Aug 14, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Kyle Lauletta (17) calls a play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Kyle Lauletta (17) calls a play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports /
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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – AUGUST 14: K’Lavon Chaisson #45 of the Jacksonville Jaguars rushes around James Hudson #66 of the Cleveland Browns in the first quarter during a preseason game at TIAA Bank Field on August 14, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

James Hudson III

One of the toughest transitions from college football to the NFL is offensive tackle. Not only is the importance of protecting the quarterback so much higher in the NFL, but the other team’s best defensive player is also usually lined up across from you on every single play.

We knew coming into the season the James Hudson III out of the University Cincinnati was a very unpolished player, but maybe I forgot just how hard the transition was.

Not only was Hudson making his NFL debut, but he was also the starter because of resting Jedrick Wills and had to face the Jaguar’s starting defense.

Hudson didn’t do too bad in the run game but certainly struggled in pass protection. He quickly found out how fast defensive ends in the NFL are, and then quickly started over-setting and giving up inside leverage.

Let’s not hit the panic button on Hudson just yet. He’s extremely young and has very little game experience under his belt. He will continue to get better with every repetition he gets, and he has one of the best offensive line coaches in the game, Bill Callahan, mentoring him.

Wills will likely get a few snaps in game two, just to make sure he gets his timing and rhythm back for week one but expect to see a ton of Hudson the rest of the preseason. The Browns will want to get as much tap as possible on him to see if he can be a long-term piece of this puzzle.

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