Things Continue To Get Messier Between Matthew Judon and the Patriots

With each passing day, we are getting closer to football season. The NFL season is different every single year but that's the beauty of the game.

For the last two decades, the Pats have been one of the best teams in the NFL. That isn't the expectation for this group in 2024, as they are a rebuilding team. Even though there are some talented players on this roster, changing coaches and drafting a quarterback in the Top 3 clearly indicates a rebuild.

This offseason, general manager Eliot Wolf re-signed some key veterans Josh Uche, Kyle Dugger, Hunter Henry, Mike Onwenu, Kendrick Bourne, Christian Barmore, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Jahlani Tavai.

Despite taking care of these guys, EDGE Matthew Judon has been asking for a new deal but things continue to get worse behind the scenes.

Patriots News: Matthew Judon Wont Play Under Current Deal

With rookies reporting to camp on July 19 and veterans coming in on July 23, we are inching closer to real football.

Despite this excitement, the Pats have real problems around Judon. According to Greg A. Bedard of Bostonsportsjournal.com, Judon won't play on his current contract.

"What I know is he may be playing nice publicly and he has. He's said all the right things and if you want to believe him, take him at his word, go right ahead. What I can tell you from the people that I've talked to, he is not going to play under his current contract. At least for the Patriots. I can't talk about any place else. That's my understanding. "

-  Greg A. Bedard

For a while now, it's been reported that Judon wanted a new contract but hearing that he won't play under his deal for New England was eye-opening. That makes it seem like he would play under that price tag for the right team.

He is slated to make $6.5 million in the final year of his contract. Back in 2021, he signed a four-year, $54 million deal with New England and has been a very effective difference-maker up front.

In three seasons in New England, Judon has racked up 133 total tackles, 33 tackles for loss, and 32 sacks. Unfortunately last season, he tore his biceps tendon, which cost him the year. Now after relentlessly rehabbing, he's ready to go but wants to cash in.

The 31-year-old can still be a disruptive force but that $6.5 million isn't enough to suit for the rebuilding Pats from Judon's perspective.

In his defense, the top five highest-paid EDGE rushers are making at least $25 million a year so Judon's number is really low.

Now we don't know how much Judon is asking for at the negotiating table but it doesn't make the most sense for a rebuilding team like the Pats to give out a massive extension to a 31-year-old player coming off a serious injury.

The way things are trending, New England could be shipping him out over the summer to gain some future draft capital.

We'll see if things change over the next couple of days but it sounds like his tenure with the Pats could be coming to an end.

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