Matthew Judon Reveals Stunning Patriots Incompetence in Contract Dispute

It's been nearly a week since the New England Patriots traded standout defender Matthew Judon to the Atlanta Falcons for a third-round pick. The trade was a result of Judon and the Patriots being unable to agree to terms on a new contract. Rather than deal with a season-long headache, New England washed its hands of the situation before the new schedule even began.

While some fans are glad that the contract dispute is finally over, others are disappointed that the two sides couldn't work something out. After all, Judon was one of the Patriots' best defenders throughout the last three seasons and there's a decent chance that they could struggle to fill his void.

Unfortunately, the 32-year-old's latest remarks will upset New England fans who weren't ready to see him go.

Patriots Fumbled Matthew Judon Contract Dispute

On Sunday, Judon opened up to NBC Sports' Kayla Burton to discuss the trade. When asked about why he didn't re-sign with the Patriots, the former Grand Valley State product revealed that management "never sat down" with him to discuss a new deal as most negotiations took place via text message or phone calls.

According to Judon, he even went as far as to request in-person discussions with the front office. Unfortunately, those requests didn't go anywhere.

Considering just how good of a defender he is, the fact that the Patriots opted to forgo in-person discussion is absolutely embarrassing. Even if it's de facto general manager Eliot Wolf's first year on the job, a better effort must be given to re-sign someone of Judon's caliber.

Judon joined the Patriots in March 2021 when he signed a four-year, $56 million contract as a free agent. He was a difference-maker in his first two seasons with the franchise, amassing 28 sacks and 74 solo tackles across 34 games while earning two Pro Bowl nods.

Much to his dismay, Judon couldn't replicate that success in 2023. The former 2016 fifth-rounder's season prematurely ended after four games due to a biceps tear. He registered four sacks in those appearances and now looks to pick up from where he left off in Atlanta, where he'll carry a $6.7 million cap hit in the last year of his contract.

Hopefully, GM Wolf learns from his mistakes because the Patriots can't afford to let more talented players slip through their fingers.

Even though having in-person discussions wouldn't have guaranteed Judon's potential re-signing, the impersonal negotiation style didn't do the team any favors.

Judon Still Has Love for New England

The good news for Patriots fans is that even though negotiations didn't work out, Judon doesn't hold any ill will toward the fanbase. He told Burton that he loved how Boston-area sports are interconnected and embraced the city being "title town."

He added that he appreciates Patriots fans (even if he won't see them as often) and made sure to thank the fanbase for the positive impact they had on his career — especially when he missed time due to injury.

"Through thick and thin, I was really embraced in the community and embraced by the [Boston] community, and I appreciate it.""

- Matthew Judon

Time will tell how the Patriots' defense will fare without Judon patrolling the gridiron. For now, New England heads into the 2024 NFL season with a projected win total of 4.5 on FanDuel Sportsbook.

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