New England Patriots: Matt Judon has 2021 NFL DOPY written all over him

If the preseason is any indication, the New England Patriots have themselves a great addition in linebacker Matt Judon.

Signed to a four-year deal worth $56 million in the offseason, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound edge rusher has already demonstrated his value when he has been on the field in the preseason. He’s energetic, he’s versatile and most importantly he is all for the team, which is rubbing off on veteran players like Dont’a Hightower and younger players like Josh Uche.

Of course, anytime a Bill Belichick makes a splash in free agency, those players come with a big, bright spotlight on their backs, but like the Stephon Gilmore signing a few years back, Judon is a great fit in New England and the Patriots coach will put him in the best position to be successful and he will.

Matt Judon brings the right attitude to the New England Patriots defense

In fact, look for Judon to have more of an impact than Gilmore had in his first season with the New England Patriots. A Defensive Player of the Year candidate?

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Yes, Judon will be that much of a factor on defense. In an article highlighting the top 5 Defensive Player of the Year sleepers, NFL analyst Bucky Brooks picks some studs, but this Patriots fan would stick Judon on that list ahead of a player like Chris Jones of the Kansas City Chiefs who he had listed at No. 3.

That dude is a stud, but Judon is coming to New England as a hungry player and a player who makes players around him better. It has only been the preseason, but he just has a presence and feel of a player who will flourish under Belichick like Gilmore has and like Rodney Harrison did back in 2004.

He just has that kind of attitude and physical presence. Above all, he has a knack for making opposing quarterbacks feel uncomfortable, totaling 15.5 sacks over the last two seasons. He will have double digit sacks this season, mark my words.

In saying that, the one factor that probably left Judon off Brooks’ list is the depth the Patriots have at the linebacker position and how Belichick likes to move players around. Expect him to do that with Judon because of the energy and physicality he brings to the table.

Speaking of that energy, Judon received high praise from new teammate Dont’a Hightower who gushed about his worth ethic, which we know is what Belichick loves in his players.

"“Oh, a hundred percent. Again, him cracking jokes and stuff, that’s like 8 out of 10. But his work ethic is 10 of 10,” Hightower said prior to the team’s first preseason game. “So whether it’s him doing extra pass rush stuff before practice, or after practice, or him, if it’s an intense drill that we’ve got going, but he’s still chasing the ball carrier down to the end zone, people feed off of that, people see that in film and stuff. Obviously, all that stuff is great for us.”"

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Hightower went on to praise Judon’s leadership as one of the top qualities the veteran pass rusher brings to the table. That is where he is like a player like Harrison. That energy, leadership and impact on the field will not only influence veterans like Hightower and Kyle Van Noy to step up their game, but it will also help in the growth of players like Uche, Chase Winovich and 2021 second-round pick Christian Barmore.

In that respect, Matt Judon does have DPOY written all over him. If not recognized by the NFL, he will be that for the New England Patriots.

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