C Rodney Hudson will make AFC West move to Raiders

The Oakland Raiders must use a considerable chunk of their salary cap space to fall within the minimum spending threshold mandated by the collective bargaining agreement. On Monday morning, they took a step toward that.

Center Rodney Hudson, who will officially be a free agent Tuesday, has agreed to terms with the Raiders, a source close to the situation confirmed to Paste BN Sports. The source spoke under the condition of anonymity because players cannot officially switch teams until the new league year begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

The contract is worth $44.5 million over five seasons. CBS Sports first reported the agreement.

Hudson, 25, wasn't one of the most heralded free agents on the market, but he has been one of the most effective at his position in four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. Pro Football Focus ranked him as the NFL's third-best center, behind only Travis Frederick of the Dallas Cowboys and Nick Mangold of the New York Jets, in 2014.

Hudson, who has 35 career starts, excels in both run and pass blocking.

The Raiders, set to enter the free agent period with roughly $60 million in cap space according to NFLPA records, were expected to make a big splash in free agency but have apparently failed to lure big-name stars like Ndamukong Suh, Randall Cobb and Jeremy Maclin to Oakland. And Hudson's arrival likely signals the departure of last year's staring center, Stefen Wisniewski.

The Chiefs will be in the market for blocking help, however a lack of cap space likely won't give them many high-end options.

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Follow Lorenzo Reyes on Twitter @Lorenzo_G_Reyes