As the Patriots gave notable contracts to several in-house options this offseason, Matt Judon is now with the Falcons. That became New England’s solution to a simmering issue, with solid offers coming in from multiple teams.
After losing the Montez Sweat sweepstakes to the Bears at the deadline, the Falcons won out by sending a third-rounder to the Pats. Judon remains in a contract year and, unlike Haason Reddick, is not forcing the issue with his new team. No extension appears imminent. This is not the way, of course, Judon approached matters during his final weeks as a Patriot.
Judon’s situation, which involved a hold-in and a visible dustup with Patriots brass at practice, escalated after the Patriots extended Christian Barmore, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. This agreement (four years, $84MM) came to pass back in late April, leading into the Pats’ offseason program. It made Barmore the Pats’ highest-paid defender — by a significant margin. Although Judon received an adjustment last summer, he was still tied to a four-year, $54MM deal he had signed in 2021. The ex-Ravens draftee had outplayed that contract, but his age (32) and the biceps tear he sustained last season complicated his path to new terms.
The Pats were talking extension terms with both Barmore and Judon back in March, but conversations with the latter did not progress. Judon did not skip minicamp, but he staged a hold-in at training camp. New England’s camp then included a two-year, $18MM deal with DT Davon Godchaux, a player who had also angled for a new contract. The Patriots had submitted an offer by early July, and a subsequent report stated multiple proposals emerged. These were not believed to be true extension offers, and Judon disputed the report. Judon said he was not pursuing a top-market contract, citing his injury, but believed he was worth more than the $6.5MM in base salary — a number affected by the Pats moving money from 2024 to 2023 on his deal last summer — he was tied to in his contract year.
This lengthy chapter also included the dispute with Jerod Mayo and de facto GM Eliot Wolf. Judon argued with both Pats decision-makers before leaving a practice weeks ago, and although he soon returned, Breer indicates calls began coming in soon after. The Bears and Falcons offered third-round picks, and the Dolphins and Texans were in on the pursuit as well. Judon now joins Justin Simmons as 30-something Falcons defenders aiming to improve their respective markets ahead of the 2025 free agency period.
As for the Patriots, this trade will challenge their ability to pressure quarterbacks. Barmore remains on New England’s NFI list due to blood clots. If the team’s 2023 sack leader is moved to the reserve/NFI list in the coming days, he must miss at least four games. While the Pats have the recently re-signed Josh Uche and 2023 second-rounder Keion White on the edge, Judon combined for 28 sacks between the 2021 and ’22 seasons.
After Judon saw so many Patriots receive extensions this offseason, the situation became untenable. The Pats did well to collect a third-rounder, though, and how Judon bounces back will help determine who prevails in the NFC South.
Sounds more and more like Judon just wanted out of NE. But shouldn’t ATL be a little concerned they gave up a 3rd for what could be a one year rental?
This is an auto take on every single trade or free agent departure. These aren’t slap fights during recess, these are two parties trying to reach a business deal.
When you negotiate a service-related business deal, each side has a target figure that represents their own perspective on the value of the service. It’s neither personal, nor uncommon, for two parties to attach different values to the same service – after all, each party has different needs.
This isn’t Judon saying “I want out of Foxboro”, or the Patriots’ brass saying “We don’t want Judon to play here anymore.” This is simply an unbreachable difference in opinion on value. Remember, Judon only has one service to sell, but the Patriots need to purchase multiple services. It makes sense that Matt Judon’s desire to maximize the value of his services conflicts with the Patriots’ desire to fill a whole variety of needs.
No team can pay every player exactly what they ask, the question becomes “can the two sides find a common ground; a deal that leaves both sides feeling like they’re getting a fair value”.
All things being equal, I suspect that most pro players are like the rest of us – it’s a pain in the butt to move. Finding a new place to live, finding your way around a new town, making new friends amongst your work mates, getting along with your new bosses, starting new schools for the kids, and leaving their own friends behind.
This isn’t a story about “Judon obviously wanted out”, this is a story about two “businesses” that can’t find common ground on value.
The players have short careers and are rightfully motivated in maximizing their incomes, the teams have other factors to consider. No one in New England will tell you Matt Judon isn’t good at what he does, Mr Judon is entitled to look outside the building to see if he can maximize his value somewhere else.
Nothing personal.
He isn’t maximizing anything. He just switched teams and has the same contract.
Are you sure you know what’s going on?