3 Patriots Preparing for their Final Season in new England

1. Matt Judon, EDGE

Matt Judon made the most out of his opportunity in the NFL. A fifth-round pick from Grand Valley State, he fought his way onto the Baltimore Ravens roster as a rookie and had 27 tackles and four sacks. By his second season, he was a regular starter and proved to be a consistent force on the edge.

Judon spent five years with the Ravens and had 236 tackles and 34.5 sacks. He left in free agency in 2021, signing a four-year, $56 million deal with the Patriots. He exceeded expectations as soon as he arrived with 60 tackles and 12.5 sacks in 2021. He had 60 tackles again in 2022 while racking up 15.5 sacks, earning his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl appearance.

He was playing exceptional football again in 2023 with 13 tackles and four sacks in the first four games. That came to a crashing halt in Week 4 when he suffered a torn bicep in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He was sent to the IR in October, ending his third season with the franchise.

Throughout the offseason, there were rumors that Judon could request a trade due to the coaching change. That never happened and he's expected to be back for one more year. It's likely to be his last run with the team as he turns 32 in August. As they rebuild, New England will be looking for a younger pass rusher, who won't demand as much on the open market as Judon can.

More Patriots news and rumors: