KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Chiefs signed offensive guard Otis Hudson, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, to a free-agent contract, according to Thursday’s NFL Transaction report.
G Otis Hudson. Credit: Chiefs media relations.
Hudson, whom the Bengals waived on Aug. 27, 2013, worked out for the Chiefs on Wednesday before signing a one-year deal to the league minimum, his agent Vinnie Porter told ChiefsSpin.com in a phone interview.
“He’s been out for a whole year,” Porter said. “But he’s raring to get back. (He’s) healthy now, 100 percent.”
Hudson, 27, originally entered the league out of Eastern Illinois as a fifth-round pick (152nd overall) of the Bengals in 2010.
The addition of Hudson, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, gives the Chiefs 13 offensive linemen on the roster ahead of next week’s NFL Draft.
He joins Jeff Allen, Chandler Burden, Robert Dill, Eric Fisher, Ricky Henry, Rodney Hudson, Rishaw Johnson, Colin Kelly, Eric Kush, Jeff Linkenbach, Donald Stephenson, Rokevious Watkins.
The Chiefs signed Linkenbach, who can play tackle or guard, on March 12 after losing guards Geoff Schwartz and Jon Asamoah to free agency.
While competition for a roster spot should be fierce in the months leading to training camp, Porter said his client looks forward to the upcoming battles.
“Otis is confident in his ability to compete with anybody for a starting spot, for a spot on the team,” Porter said. “He knows now after being out of football for a year that he has to do whatever he can do to help the team win.”
Notes: Porter also represents Chiefs wide receiver Rashad Ross, who spent time on the team’s practice squad in 2013 … “Rashad is ready,” Porter said of the coming months. “Rashad really, really worked hard this summer. His trainer was so happy with him and he gained a little weight” … Porter said the weight gain will not affect Ross, who was listed at 6-0 and 181 pounds at the end of the 2013 season … Ross ran track and field at Arizona State.
