After a trade with the Falcons was arranged yesterday night, Matt Judon’s communication problem with the Patriots was fixed. The deal is official today, and in exchange for the pending free agency edge rusher, New England will get a third-round pick.
Judon had competition in Atlanta prior to the agreement on the deal. Negotiations involved the Bears “heavily,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston writes that Chicago offered a third-round selection, much like the Falcons did. By choosing to accept Atlanta’s selection, the Patriots put an end to a protracted issue that included lost practice time and dissatisfaction with the slow pace of extension negotiations.
Unsurprisingly, Perry attests to the fact that there was a “sizable gap” between Judon’s asking price and the Patriots’ willingness to pay him in a new contract. The four-time Pro Bowler was quite effective when playing for New England, but the organization was hesitant to sign him because of his age (he is currently 32) and a biceps injury from 2023. The former fifth-round pick will now join the Falcons, who investigated adding an edge rusher on the first day of the draft even after choosing quarterback Michael Penix Jr., when a resolution could not be reached.
Along with the Bears, Judon has drawn interest from the Dolphins and Texans, according to Fowler and Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Wilson notes that Houston only made a “brief inquiry” in their efforts, and New England probably would have preferred to avoid making a divisional deal in the form of a Miami swap. According to Perry, some league executives were taken aback by the Pats’ ability to obtain a round three selection, and moving Judon to the NFC also has merit.
The former Grand Valley State player will receive a base salary of $6.5MM in 2024, along with roster bonuses of up to $1MM each game. Although a new contract will be far more expensive, it doesn’t seem likely that one will be worked out by the time the regular season begins. According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Judon will report to Atlanta without a contract in place or an impending one.
By the time the exchange is official, players acquired through trade frequently have the terms of a new contract set in place. There are, of course, exceptions, and the Jets’ predicament with Haason Reddick is one current illustration of the problems that might arise from failing to finalize a new (or revised) deal. With one year left on a below-market contract, New York’s newly acquired edge rusher has not reported to the team in an attempt to get an adjustment or a multi-year commitment.
Although Judon did not engage in a holdout like he did in the summer, he made it apparent that he believed his market value was more in line with the position’s top salary than his 2024 pay. Twelve edge rushers presently have contracts that pay $20MM or more; considering that Judon was only able to play in four games the previous season, it may be difficult for him to meet that threshold. Still, once in Atlanta, a raise might be in order. Nonetheless, Judon would be prepared to hit the open market in March of next year if the Falcons continue to allow him to complete his contract as written.
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