The New England Patriots have had an exciting offseason since bringing in new head coach Mike Vrabel. It is the perfect balance of bringing in a fresh perspective while still having roots to New England's greatness. A perfect tone-setter for what fans believe could be an important page turn for the franchise.
One piece of the former regime that remains in limbo is current free agent Matthew Judon. The veteran pass rusher was dealt a season ago, spending the 2024 season with the Atlanta Falcons.
Judon's 2024 season followed a surprising script, with the majority of his production coming on cleanup sacks. Things were so frustrating that the veteran had his effort questioned, and Atlanta was happy to turn the page despite having invested a draft pick to add the pass rusher.
Potential landing spots have continued to shrink, with the latest opportunity being taken away by Von Miller. The former Super Bowl MVP signed with the Washington Commanders on a one-year deal in an effort to give an up-and-coming team a boost.
Former Patriots Pass Rusher Matthew Judon Misses Another Opportunity
The Commanders would've been a great landing spot for Judon, offering the chance to get his career back on track. However, this has been handed to the more accomplished Miller. For Washington, this isn't a bad decision considering the experience and potential ceiling that the veteran brings to a roster that already made a run to the NFC Championship a season ago.
All of this was built around quarterback Jayden Daniels, whose emergence completely altered franchise expectations. If there is one issue remaining for the team, it is a lack of an established pass rush. With this in mind, Judon would've been the perfect late-offseason addition.
Looking around the league, there are a few teams left who are expected to have room for the veteran. The Patriots could be counted among these teams, with it making a level of sense to consider signing Judon to a cheap deal. Bringing the pass rusher back to where he had the best moments of his career in hopes of breathing life back into it makes sense for both sides. Especially as potential landing spots continue to disappear.