After knowing for a year that Matthew Judon's 2024 contract number would be — and was — unsatisfactory to the player, the Patriots finally resolved the matter, sending the disgruntled edge rusher to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2025 third-round draft pick.
Judon made news early in training camp, deciding not to practice on the first day of full pads. That led to a very public, occasionally emotional display from the soon-to-be 32-year-old (his birthday is Thursday), first with Jerod Mayo, then, after leaving the field for a time, with GM Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh.
The Pats insisted it was overblown, calling it a "hiccup" and suggesting it was just a "bad day" for a player doing everything right behind the scenes. But the fact of the matter is that Judon had made it clear for months — dating back to the start of the off-season — that his 2024 salary was far short of what the player deserved, even after missing 13-plus games last season with a torn bicep tendon suffered in that hideous loss to the Cowboys in Dallas last fall.
When we last talked to Judon on August 5th, I asked him why he had publicly stated at the start of camp he would honor the contract — $6.5 million plus another $1 million in roster bonuses — but then acted out so publicly. His response spoke volumes.
"No, I gotta play," he said, pausing before slyly adding, "Didn't say nothing about practice. ... I gotta do what I'm contracted and obligated to do so I don't lose some money."
The following days with Judon featured a minor injury that knocked him out of practice for a day and kept him out of the preseason opener. Though Judon got praise for being involved with his teammates during the game, the pregame told another story. He stood aside from his teammates during the team period, and when the entire group went to the home sideline for a quick special teams play, Judon walked to the other side, helmet off the whole time. He was not interacting with anyone. It was another message that Wolf and company heard. Trade talks heated up at the start of this week, with several teams getting involved. Thus, the Pats got a sound return for a player whose age didn't fit the Pats' timeline in the rebuild and whose attitude challenged this new regime.
I understand Judon's frustration with the money, especially as Wolf re-upped a number of players from last year's 4-13 trainwreck. As for the notion that he owed the team something, I suggest you look at the exploding market for pass rushers and Judon's production and realize there was no way in hell he was, nor should, play for that number. The problem is that the two sides could never close the wide gap between what Judon viewed as his worth versus how the Pats categorized him. Unless one side bent - hell, damn near broke - this was never ending with the two sides hugging it out. Now, it's time to move on, which is positive for both sides at this juncture.