A year after conducting a peaceful hold-in - and getting more guaranteed money for 2023 - Matthew Judon and the Patriots find themselves in the same spot. The Patriots' best player has a base salary of $6.5 million ($14.6 million against cap). And while he is coming off a season-ending biceps injury suffered in Week 4, that is still way below market value for the 31-year-old defender.
"I have another year on my contract, so I'm back. I'm happy that I'm still able to play football," Judon said last week at the Super Bowl. "Numbers - I'll let my agent and Matt (Groh) or whoever is figuring that out, and we'll go on by that."
Judon's reps and Bill Belichick/Groh were at loggerheads for much of the offseason and summer of this past year, trying to figure out a number that would work for both sides. Eventually, Judon saw his guaranteed dollars go from $2 million to $14 million, but much of that came from moving 2024 money into 2023. Thus, the low dollar figure for this, the final year of Judon's deal.
"This game is a business. A business," said Judon. "I just want to play the game but also have to win at the business aspect."
Judon said he's talked to Jerod Mayo and DeMarcus Covington but not with Eliot Wolf or Groh. What was the message expressed to him?
"They want me there," he said. "I want to be there. But like I said, business is business."
And business dictates that Judon is worth significantly more than $6.5 mil, even with the injury. He recorded sacks in three of the four games (four total) he played last season. The season before, the edge rusher was immense - 15.5 sacks (fourth in the league), 28 QB hits, 14 tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles. He finished 9th in the AP's Defensive Player of the Year voting.
Considering the Pats have plenty of money in their salary cap coffers and not a large group of players in free agency worth spending it on, it makes sense to give the man a raise and make sure he's leading the charge in 2024. The philosophy in New England needs to revolve around keeping your best players, and Judon is definitely that.
ARMS RACE
The Patriots aren't the only team in the market for a quarterback. Per league sources, at least nine teams were doing real work on the top handful of signal callers entering this year's draft, including the Atlanta Falcons, who are picking at #8 overall.
Owner Arthur Blank called his team's play at the position "deficient." That's an excellent way of saying stink, stank, stunk. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, one of the Pats' primary targets in their OC search, clarified that they'd be looking at all options.
"Whether it's a pocket guy, whether it's a guy that can move around a little bit, we're just looking for the best guy that we can do," Robinson said during his introductory news conference Wednesday. "Certainly know the guys that are here, we're evaluating everybody, so Taylor Heinicke and Desmond Ridder, we're looking at those guys.
"All options are on the table."
Ridder was given every opportunity by the previous regime, who eschewed drafting a QB and instead selected running back Bijan Robinson in the top 10 a year ago. He responded by completing just 64% of his passes for 12 TDs and 12 INTs. Heinicke was worse. Try 54%, five TDs, and four picks. Both are under contract next year, but Heinecke can be cut without doing much damage to the salary cap.
Robinson said he has yet to watch a bunch of either player (I'm not buying what he's selling) and is still determining what type of offense they will run. But he does know whoever is under center needs to be that dude.
"That guy's got to be the most competitive guy in the room," Robinson said.
WHERE'S THE BEEF?
Expect a serious run on offensive linemen in the draft. A half-dozen tackles are expected to go in the first round, and another four or five to come off the board on day two. So yes, just as with the quarterback position, there'll be competition for the best of the bunch, including from inside the division, as both the Jets and Dolphins need improvements up front.
Miami could lose left tackle Terron Armstead to retirement; New York is likely to be okay letting former first-rounder Mekhi Becton hit free agency - he surrendered 17 sacks - and had a revolving door at right tackle. Even Buffalo could get into the mix with both starters, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown, entering the final years of their contracts. Brown is trending upwards, and if he plays as well as he did in 2023, he'll be in line for a big raise.
The Jets pick 10th in round one (then don't have another selection til 72), the Dolphins 21st (then 55th), and the Bills 28th (60th). New York certainly will be in position to pick one of the top players at the position should they choose (although there are rumblings of a Rome Odunze obsession), and the Dolphins are in a spot where they too can get their man (they may also need to look for interior offensive line help with both Connor Williams and Robert Hunt free agents). It might be more complicated for Buffalo, with questions at wide receiver and defensive line. GM Brandon Beane might be wise to move back slightly and accumulate another pick somewhere between 28 and 60. Or say the hell with it and trade up for the player they desire the most. As always, stay tuned.
BIG MONEY MAYFIELD
After signing a one-year deal with Tampa Bay in the offseason, Baker Mayfield had a career season, throwing for 28 touchdowns and leading the Bucs into the Divisional round of the playoffs after an upset win Wild Card weekend at Philadelphia.
Mayfield is in line for a big payday with TB or elsewhere. Earlier this week, it was reported that the two sides had no substantial contract discussions, but the QB has let it be known where he'd like to be.
"The ball is in (Tampa Bay's) court right now," Mayfield told Dan Patrick. "I've been vocal about the mutual interest. I was very appreciative of the opportunity I had there. How they run the organization, everything they're all about, how do we put our guys in the best position possible to win, I've been vocal about that."
The franchise tag window opens in less than a week (February 20), and the Bucs could tag Mayfield. It's estimated that number will be around $36 million. Is Mayfield that kind of player? Well, yeah, sort of. Daniel Jones is getting that same payout for the upcoming season, the 2nd year of a 4-year deal. Jones has never thrown for more than 3,205 yards in a season and has only gone over 20 touchdown passes once - in his rookie year. So adjust your mindset. That's just the going rate for average-ish QBs with some potential upside. Had Mac Jones just maintained the same level of play he had as a rookie, he would have been in line for that kind of raise. And if Justin Fields finds some success in his next stop - and I continue to be told he's likely as good as gone in Chicago - he will be wallpapering his next home in green. That's why everyone wants the signal caller on a rookie contract, but it's also why paying the good ones should never be a dilemma. Just do it.