Matthew Judon's Contract Dispute Takes Another Unexpected Turn
By Cem Yolbulan
It has been an eventful offseason in Foxborough as the New England Patriots went through significant changes. First-time head coach Jerod Mayo and lead decision-maker Eliot Wolf are overseeing the start of a rebuild and the transition has largely been drama-free. One major saga has been the contract stalemate between the Patriots and Matthew Judon.
The disgruntled star is demanding a new contract from New England as he enters the final year of the four-year, $54.5 million deal he signed back in 2021. Since then, he has been one of the best players for the Patriots even though he only played in four games last season. His 32 sacks in 38 games for the Patriots speak for themselves but the organization is understandably hesitant to give a 32-year-old pass rusher a multi-year extension as they embark on a rebuild.
That is why the latest report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler shouldn't come as a surprise. The league is reportedly reading the tea leaves and multiple teams have been inquiring about trading for Judon.
Patriots News: Matthew Judon Has Multiple Suitors For a Potential Trade
Multiple teams have inquired about trading for pass rusher Matthew Judon amid his contract stalemate with the #Patriots, per sources.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) August 12, 2024
Judon is due $6.5M in the final year of his deal. New England made a contract offer to Judon this summer, which Judon did not accept. pic.twitter.com/fEfeNBVxwo
If the Patriots are still not interested in meeting Judon's salary demands, it may be wise to get as much trade value as possible for him. The Patriots don't intend to be competitive this year, so there isn't too much of a reason to keep a veteran defender around, especially a disgruntled one.
On the other hand, it's hard to tell what Judon's trade value is on the open market. He is coming off a biceps injury and he is turning 32 in two days. He will require a contract extension from whichever team acquires him. Those can be tricky situations as we are witnessing with the Haason Reddick saga with the New York Jets.
Judon has been a professional and has been participating in training camp after a brief conflict with Jerod Mayo early on. He would surely give his best if he were to take the field as a Patriot but it might make more sense for both sides to part ways now.
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