Matt Judon did not take part in New England’s training camp practices last Monday, and he was away from the team the following day. Conversations with the team’s top decision-makers has followed, but the veteran edge rusher does not appear to be any closer to a contract resolution. 
Judon has taken part in each of the past four practices while he continues to seek out a new contract. One year remains on the four-time Pro Bowler’s current pact, and he is due $7.5MM in total compensation. That falls well short of the value of edge rushers with the production Judon has provided in New England (32 sacks in 33 games). His biceps injury limited him to four contests in 2023, though, something which has hurt his leverage in contract talks.
“We have a market, it’s set by the highest [paid] guy, then everybody falls in line until the next person is up to break that contract,” the soon-to-be 32-year-old said when addressing his situation publicly on Monday (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “Coming from the season I had, I was injured mostly all season, so that’s not really where my market is. But like I said, I don’t think it’s $6.5 [million, his scheduled base salary].”
New England’s front office is now led by Eliot Wolf, and his first offseason at the helm has been defined by a long list of players receiving new deals and extensions. Christian Barmore, Kyle Dugger, Jabrill Peppers and, most recently, Davon Godchaux are among the defenders to land a Patriots contract this offseason. Judon is believed to have received at least one offer from the team on a restructure or extension, though he has denied that.
The former fifth-rounder did not speak about his social media remarks during his Monday availability, nor did he go into detail about where things currently stand on the contract front. Judon will continue taking part in practices to avoid fines, and he has expressed a willingness to play out the final season of his pact as currently constructed after last year’s holdout. He made it clear, however, that a deal allowing him to continue in New England remains the target, pending how the team’s front office proceeds.
“Like I told you all before, I would pay myself and we’d never talk about it,” he said. “But it’s not up to me. I told you all I wanted to stay here the rest of my career.”
Since January, there have been 12 Matt Judon articles on PFR.
And you have commented on how many there are on about 9 of them.
The biceps injury and his age must be giving he and his agent, a reality check. He’s just what the Bears need on the other side from Montez Sweat, but Poles is not gonna give him some hugely better deal than the one he has. No one will.