Extension Candidate: Patriots OLB Matt Judon

Matt Judon is about to enter the ultimate season of the four-year, $56MM contract he signed with the Patriots back in 2021. The four-time Pro Bowler has undoubtedly lived as much as his contract in Latest England (at the least through the primary two seasons), but there have been conflicting reports surrounding the progress of extension talks. That’s led some pundits to wonder if 2024 could find yourself being Judon’s final season with the organization.

Judon himself provided a discouraging update last week. The veteran posted on X that he doesn’t think an extension is “about to occur” (per Dakota Randall of ProFootballNetwork.com). Further, Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard said that “there are a pair of massive contract issues” which will stem from the front office’s decision at hand Christian Barmore a brand new $92MM deal, with Bedard seemingly pointing the finger at Judon (via Randall).

On the flip side, Mike Jurecki of Arizona Football Day by day recently hinted that Judon could sign the league’s “next big contract.” The four-time Pro Bowler has also continued to precise interest in continuing his profession in Latest England, and the 31-year-old has been an lively free agent recruiter on social media.

In other words, it doesn’t seem to be anyone has any idea how it will play out. On the very least, Judon doesn’t intend to make his contract status a distraction. Last 12 months, the player staged a hold-in before coming to a brief resolution with the Patriots, however the player has since admitted that his negotiation tactic was “trash.” With the approaching free agent hinting that he won’t follow an analogous path this 12 months, the Patriots could simply let Judon play out his contract before revisiting a long-term deal next offseason.

After all, this might be the proper time for the organization to pounce. After compiling 28 sacks through his first two seasons with the Patriots, Judon was limited to 4 sacks in 4 games before suffering a season-ending bicep injury in 2023. With the 2024 campaign representing Judon’s age-32 season, the Patriots could cite the player’s age and up to date injury as a reason for a reduced extension. Plus, while Judon is simply set to earn $7.5MM in 2024, he’s connected to a $14.6MM cap charge, so any extension could help the organization reduce that number for the upcoming season.

Beyond the easy decision to increase Judon, the 2 sides would obviously must choose a price. Judon would probably be hard pressed to garner a $22MM average annual value, a mark that will push him into the top-10 amongst pass rushers. Von Miller got a $20MM AAV from the Bills ahead of his age-33 season, but Judon continues to be unlikely to generate that kind of money and term (six years). DeMarcus Lawrence‘s three-year, $40MM take care of the Cowboys or Cameron Jordan‘s two-year, $27.5MM take care of the Saints could also be higher benchmarks. Considering the Patriots are armed with loads of future cap space, this shouldn’t be a prohibitive move for the front office.

There would probably be loads of teams willing to present Judon at the least $13MM per 12 months, and people hypothetical suitors would probably give the player a greater probability at winning. The projected franchise tag for Judon is probably going untenable (between $24MM and $25MM, per OverTheCap.com), so the Patriots could risk the player walking for nothing in the event that they can’t conform to an extension now.

Because the team’s defensive and emotional leader, the Patriots can’t afford to maneuver on from Judon in 2024. It stays to be seen if the organization is willing to pay up to maintain him on the roster for 2025 and beyond.