Report: Judon and Pats ‘not close’ to agreeing on new contract originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
The New England Patriots have re-signed several players ahead of the 2024 campaign. Four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Matthew Judon is not one of them.
Judon is set to earn $6.5 million in the final season of the four-year, $54.5 million contract he signed as a free agent in 2021. Although the soon-to-be 32-year-old player is the leading candidate for a contract extension , and the Patriots made an offer, the two sides are “currently not close” to agreeing on a new deal, according to Henry McKenna of FOX Sports.
Marc Bertrand, host of 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Zolak and Bertrandshared his reaction to the report on Tuesday Early Edition.
“I’m not surprised at all. I don’t think the team is interested in giving him any kind of sizable raise at this point,” Bertrand said. “He was injured for a lot of last year, he didn’t finish either of the previous two seasons that strong, they’re at a point where you’re in your 30s, you’re 32 years old. When guys fall off a cliff in this league, let’s see what you can do and see how it goes over the next few months.”
Judon was brilliant in his first two seasons in New England. He recorded a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2021 and 15.5 in 2022.
But in 2023, after the Patriots increased his fully guaranteed money for the season from $2 million to $14 million, Judon played in just four games due to an elbow injury. Bertrand believes this, along with the front office’s long-term outlook, prevented the Patriots from meeting Judon’s contract demands.
“They’re saying, ‘So why are we giving you the money this time? You’re a year older, you have another injury now, and what are we doing this for? Just because you think you deserve it? You just want more money? And you want to set that precedent with a 32-year-old guy, because all the guys they signed and paid this offseason are guys that are in their plans for the next three or four years,” Bertrand added “All the guys that were extended are staying. here for three or four years.
“Matthew Judon won’t be here in three or four years. Davon Godchaux won’t be here in three or four years. That’s another guy who wants to get paid more money. Those are the guys that aren’t getting the money. If that’s where they are drawing the line now about who pays and who doesn’t pay, you’re probably in the right place.”
Judon fully participated in mandatory minicamp last month despite a lack of progress toward a new contract. It will be worth monitoring their participation again when training camp begins later this month.
The Patriots veterans are scheduled to perform at Gillette Stadium on July 23. The team’s first practice at training camp will take place the following day.
