Sunday Rodney Hudson announced that he had earned his Masters Degree. It was yet another major accomplishment for the already highly decorated Raiders center."He’s graduated from pass protection..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesSilver And Black Pride homepageHorizontal - WhiteSilver And Black Pridean Oakland Raiders communityFollow Silver And Black Pride online:Follow Silver And Black Pride on TwitterFollow Silver And Black Pride on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchSilver And Black Pride main menuFanpostsFanshotsRaidersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Jon Gruden says Rodney Hudson ‘big piece of this franchise’ cheap josh jacobs jersey , hopes Raiders can keep Pro Bowl center ‘for a long time’New,12commentsPDTSunday Rodney Hudson announced that he had earned his Masters Degree. It was yet another major accomplishment for the already highly decorated Raiders center.“He’s graduated from pass protection U, run blocking State and now he’s got his Masters in Business. And that just certifies what kind of guy you’re dealing with here,” Jon Gruden said of Hudson. “He’s a great player on the field, he’s one of our captains and true team leaders. He’s as tough a guy as we have. I’ve seen him play with kidney stones and various ailments. And to get a Masters degree is a huge accomplishment. I compliment him till days end. He’s special.”Hudson is also entering the final year of his contract with the five-year deal he signed with the Raiders prior to the 2015 season. At 29, and still very much in his prime, keeping him around should be a top priority. According to Gruden Trayvon Mullen Oakland Raiders Jersey , the Raiders are working on it.“I know Mike Mayock has talked to his agent,” Gruden said. “I don’t want to get involved in the specifics of those conversations, but we consider him a big piece of this franchise and we’re going to do everything we can to keep him here for a long time.”While Mayock may have spoken with Hudson’s agent at some point, I was unable to confirm any actual contract discussion have occurred at this time. But they certainly should be.When Hudson signed his deal back in 2015, he was the highest paid center in the league averaging $8.9 million a year. Now the 2-time Pro Bowler is tenth. Three centers over the age of 30 are currently averaging more per season than Hudson and all he would need to become the highest paid center in the league is a $2.5 million per season bump. He’s earned it. Getting on those discussions would be smart.Follow @LeviDamien ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders will not get the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft if quarterback Derek Carr has any say in it.For the 15th time in the last 16 seasons, the Raiders will finish no better than .500 Trayvon Mullen Oakland Raiders Jersey , and that’s if they run the table over the final six weeks.Barring a sudden turnaround Oakland is headed for another top five pick in the draft. The Raiders are tied with the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals for the worst record in the NFL at 2-8. Based on strength of schedule, the 49ers own the top overall pick followed by the Cardinals and the Raiders.Oakland held the No. 1 spot until beating Arizona last week to snap a five-game losing streak.Carr is determined to keep the Raiders out of that position again.“I want to mess up the draft,” Carr said Wednesday. “I don’t want the first pick. I want to win all these games. I want everybody to be mad at me for that. That’s what I want to accomplish.”Since the merger in 1970 the Raiders have had the first overall pick one other time — in 2007 when they drafted quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Russell lasted just three seasons and is widely considered one of the biggest busts in NFL history.The Raiders had high hopes when the year began, with both owner Mark Davis and coach Jon Gruden talking hopefully of a Super Bowl before the team relocates to Las Vegas for the 2020 season.Those plans were derailed early when the team lost nine of its first 10 games. With the focus now on the future, the Raiders are hopeful of getting better through the draft.Through a series of trades that sent Khalil Mack to the Chicago Bears and Amari Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys, they have three first-round picks in 2019 and two more in 2020.Carr, the 36th overall pick in 2014 Cheap Trayvon Mullen Jersey , has repeatedly brushed aside talk of the Raiders tanking in order to get the No. 1 pick and said it’s more important for the team to establish a winning tone.“For us as an offense it’s really just building continuity,” Carr said “We’ve got a lot of young guys playing. We’ve got a lot of new guys playing. Everyone sees what’s going on, what we’re having to deal with but why not just go out and win some games? That would be so cool for this group to be able to hold onto.”Carr will have to do some more adjusting to make that happen.With wide receivers Jordy Nelson (knee) and Martavis Bryant (PCL) questionable, the Raiders signed Keon Hatcher off Green Bay’s practice squad. Hatcher was on Oakland’s 53-man roster coming out of training camp before being waived to make room for Bryant.The Raiders also lost Brandon LaFell to an Achilles injury suffered against the Cardinals. LaFell was placed on injured reserve this week.“Love Keon,” Carr said. “He’s so competitive. That’s the moral of the story with the guys coach keeps around. They’re super competitive.You’re going to see him do the dirty work.”Notes: Wide receiver Johnny Holton was activated from the practice squad. Holton had been taking reps as a defensive back after beginning the season at receiver. With Oakland’s injury issues at the position, Holton was switched back to offense. . Nose tackle Justin Ellis returned to practice for the first time since suffering a foot injury in Week 1. Ellis is the team’s best run defender but Gruden declined to say whether he would be activated this week. . Wide receiver Saeed Blacknall and cornerback Arrion Springs were signed to the practice squad.