It has been a topic of speculation for months, but has been put on hold due to important decisions the Patriots team has been making recently and will make soon. Coach Bill Belichick has left and a new coach has taken over. The team has also used up its free agency budget without signing any star players. Jerod MayoNow, the focus is on what to do with the No. 3 overall pick.
But amidst all the attention on the Patriots, the question remains about what to do with linebacker Matthew Judon, a player who has been chosen for the Pro Bowl four times and was injured in Week 4, missing the rest of the season.
Judon will be 32 in August, and while he can still play well—getting a career-best 15.5 sacks in 2022 and four before his injury last season—he doesn't really fit in with the Patriots' plans to rebuild.
According to Pro Football Focus, in an article titled, “2024 NFL Draft: Realistic trade predictions for 6 veterans who could be moved during the draft,” Judon is a top candidate for a trade before the NFL draft ends this weekend.
Matthew Judon Signed in 2021
Judon originally signed a four-year, $56 million contract in 2021 after two successful seasons in Baltimore. He performed even better in New England, achieving 28 sacks in the previous two seasons, compared to 34.5 sacks in his first five years with the Ravens. So why trade him? Here’s what
“This draft class has a few first-round edge rushers including
Dallas Turner . But the overall depth of the class isn’t ideal. Teams like the, Jared Verse and Laiatu LatuBaltimore Ravens Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, and could all be interested in Judon for a late-round pick. “Don’t be surprised if the Patriots try to ‘do right’ by Judon and put him in a situation where he can win right away.”
Patriots Projected Return: 4th-Round Pick
Many teams would be interested in getting Judon, but given his age and recent injury, it's not clear what the Patriots could get in return. He is in the final year of his contract, and it's worth noting that he was unhappy with that contract last summer and held out from team activities until he got a raise.
Judon is only
guaranteed $2 million this season . It is a very tradeable deal.MassLive’s Chris Mason a
ddressed the issue of Judon’s valueearlier this month and estimated it at a fourth-rounder, “An out-of-town comp that might be more on the nose: When the Eagles were selling out for a Super Bowl in 2022, they dealt a fourth-rounder for 32-year-old edge rusher Robert Quinn at the deadline, who was coming off an 18.5-sack season. “Philadelphia only paid for a half-season of Quinn, but with Judon coming off a serious injury and heading into a contract year at 32, I’d ballpark his trade value right around there: A fourth-round pick.”
The Patriots' standout player Matthew Judon was sidelined for the majority of 2023 due to an injury, leading to questions about whether he will return to play for New England.
