It’s been an eventful offseason in Foxborough as the New England Patriots have undergone significant changes. New head coach Jerod Mayo and key decision-maker Eliot Wolf are overseeing the start of a rebuild and the transition has been largely drama-free. One major saga has been the contract deadlock between the Patriots and Matthew Judon.
The disgruntled star is demanding a new contract from New England as he enters the final year of the four-year, $54.5 million deal he signed in 2021. Since then, he has been one of the Patriots’ best players despite only appearing in four games last season. His 32 sacks in 38 games for the Patriots speak for themselves, but the organization is understandably hesitant to give a 32-year-old pass rusher a multi-year extension while it embarks on a rebuild.
That’s why the latest report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler should come as no surprise. The league is reportedly reading the signs of the times and several teams have inquired about a trade for Judon.
Several teams have inquired about a trade for pass rusher Matthew Judon, as his contract with the #Patriotsaccording to sources.
Judon is due $6.5 million in the final year of his contract. New England made Judon a contract offer this summer, but Judon declined. pic.twitter.com/fEfeNBVxwo
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) 12 August 2024
If the Patriots still aren’t interested in meeting Judon’s salary demands, it might be wise to get as much as possible for him. The Patriots don’t plan on being competitive this year, so there aren’t many reasons to keep a veteran defender, especially an unhappy one.
On the other hand, it’s hard to say what Judon’s trade value is on the open market. He’s recovering from a bicep injury and turns 32 in two days. He’ll demand a contract extension from the team that signs him. These can be tricky situations, as we’re seeing with the Haason-Reddick saga with the New York Jets.
Judon was a professional and participated in training camp after a brief conflict with Jerod Mayo at the beginning. He would certainly do his best if he took the field as a Patriot, but it might make more sense for both sides to go their separate ways now.
