James Hudson III might not be the defense's favorite player during heated practices, but that makes him the ideal offensive lineman.
That is what the Giants are learning about the 6-foot-5, 313-pound swing tackle, whose importance can't be overstated given how the last few seasons went after Andrew Thomas got injured.
"When I signed, I kind of compared it a pitcher closing a game," Hudson said. "When one of the tackles goes down or anything like that, that can be at any point in a game whether that's in the third quarter, the fourth quarter, whenever, you have to come in there and there's no drop-off. It's one of the most important roles in football."
The Giants have gone to the bullpen. Thomas was placed on the physically unable to perform list to start training camp, making Hudson's signing even more notable. The Giants said over the offseason that they would be "smart" with Thomas, who did not participate in spring practices. The standout left tackle underwent surgery last season after suffering a foot injury against Cincinnati on Oct. 13.
The starting five offensive linemen had played 100 percent of the snaps together to that point. The Giants then used 10 different combinations the rest of the way, tying them with the Patriots for the most in the NFL.
That led them to Hudson, who was originally selected by the Browns in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He played in 47 regular-season games with Cleveland and made 17 starts – 14 at right tackle over his first three seasons and three at left tackle last year.
"I know that they're building something special here," Hudson said of why he signed with the Giants. "I could see it when they came up and played us in Cleveland last year. This is a special group, something I wanted to be a part of and change things around."
Hudson, playing with the first team while Thomas is out, has already put his stamp on his new team.
"He's an intense dude," right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor said. "Sometimes you've got to pull him back in because he'll just dive off the edge of the boat. You say, 'no, don't do that.' But I mean offensive line is a hard position and you got to have some edge about you, especially playing tackle – I would know – especially a left tackle, which I would know. Obviously, he's just out there trying to get better and he's taking it upon himself to truly set the tone which we love. Offensive line, you got to set the tone. For us to be the offensive line we want to be this year, you've got to have guys like that on the team so we're happy to have him."
His head coach is also glad.
"I love it, for an offensive lineman," coach Brian Daboll said. "You're always looking for offensive linemen that bring an edge. Again, we've got to be smart, so what's it going to be in the fourth quarter when things get tough and somebody shoves you and pushes you? Are you able to have the emotional maturity to go ahead and focus on the next play and not get involved in that? That's some of the stuff we evaluate out here as well. Can these guys – we've all done training camp for a long time, so emotions are going to happen. Competitive juices are – there's going to be stuff that happens. There is every year. There hasn't been a year since I've done it where there hasn't been, usually multiple times."
The Giants put on the pads for the first time this week with temperatures reaching triple digits.
"There's a lot of pushing, there's a lot of shoving and you want to take it right up to the line but not cross that line," Daboll said. "Sometimes, that's going to happen. You show clips, you teach off of it, don't want to be cheap. When you get tired, you don't want to do dumb things that affect the team in a negative way, but his edge and his personality has been a welcomed addition to the room."
Hudson credits his intensity to what longtime offensive line coach Bill Callahan and assistant Scott Peters instilled in him with the Browns.
"They did a great job of grooming me into the player that I am today," Hudson said.
Daboll noticed.
"We liked his tape as a free agent," Daboll said. "He's a very athletic guy, was able to play both sides of the ball and he had a good play style but now you get to know him at a different level. In the meetings, he's a pretty serious guy. I try to get him to smile once a day, doesn't always work. [Quarterback] Jameis [Winston] has a pretty good relationship with him, he'll be a good guy to talk to about Hud. He was with him there at Cleveland and yeah, he's been a good addition for us out there. He's had a good camp, playing there at left tackle every down, so we want that aggressive approach."
How does Daboll make him smile?
"[He'll] just come up to me randomly," Hudson said. "It could be right before we start a team period. He says something. It could be whenever – right after a play. You never really know. Coach Daboll is an interesting guy himself."
Even though he is serious about his craft, Hudson still knows how to laugh. Case in point, the photo of him signing his contract in March went viral and drew comparisons to musical artist T-Pain, who even posted about it on social media.
"That was pretty cool, man," Hudson said. "It wasn't the first time that I heard it. I've been hearing that for a few years now, but now everybody else knows about it."
And now Giants fans know him.
See the best photos from the first week of practice at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center.
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Head Coach Brian Daboll
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New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants safety Jevon Holland (8) catches the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fist bumps John Michael Schmitz Jr. (61) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) hands the ball off to Cam Skattebo during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) huddles with teammates during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) greets fans during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns (0) talks with Abdul Carter (51) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) passes the ball during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Abdul Carter (51) reacts during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux (5) talks with Abdul Carter (51) during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers (1) makes a catch during Back Together Weekend at the team's NFL football training camp, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
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