Matthew Judon Appears Perturbed at Patriots Practice

Matthew Judon makes no secret of being unhappy with his current contract with the New England Patriots. However, the sack specialist has been a full participant in training camp. He stated he “ain’t giving no money away” by skipping any mandatory sessions. But there was something amiss at today’s practice for Judon.

Phil Perry of NBC Sports Boston reported that Judon was sitting on the sideline during pass-rushing drills. According to Perry’s report, head coach Jerod Mayo walked over and talked to Judon for about a minute. Judon appeared frustrated, got up, and walked off the practice field.

Judon has one year remaining on his contract with the Patriots. This makes him eligible for free agency following the season. The four-time Pro Bowl selection stated he wants to stay in New England. However, he doesn’t appear to be interested in playing under his current deal, which pays him $6.5 million in base salary for 2024. New England is under no obligation to rework Judon’s deal, but he is unquestionably underpaid at the moment.

Tipping Point for Judon?

Reports indicate that agent Drew Rosenhaus is in Foxboro today. Rosenhaus represents defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who is also entering the final year of his deal and looking for an extension. The Athletic’s Chad Graff was first to report Rosenhaus’ presence in Foxboro.

Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for Patriots DT Davon Godchaux as he seeks a new contract, is at Gillette Stadium today.

— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) July 29, 2024

Also Read – Kelley: Eliot Wolf in Enviable Position With the Patriots

Perhaps seeing another teammate on the verge of receiving a contract extension was the final tipping point for Matthew Judon’s frustrations.

New England executive Eliot Wolf has preached “The Packer Way” of doing business. This consists of drafting, developing, and extending core players. Wolf extended the contracts of Christian Barmore, David Andrews, Rhamondre Stevenson, Jahlani Tavai, and Jabrill Peppers this offseason. These signings signal Wolf considers all five “core players” for the Patriots.

It appears Davon Godchaux is on the verge of inking an extension, based on Drew Rosenhaus coming to town. Matthew Judon feeling disrespected by not being more of a priority for the Patriots to lock in as a core player is understandable.

What’s Next?

The Patriots having unhappy players in camp was always a possibility. Many players were entering the final year of their deals heading into 2024. Eliot Wolf has taken care of several of them already. The team’s lone Pro Bowl selection over the past two seasons is not one of them though.

Trent Brown received a pay bump to keep him happy entering the final year of his deal a year ago. New England was under no obligation to give Brown a bonus. By the second half of the season, the offensive tackle was disgruntled again. He appeared to be planning for free agency more than worrying about his 2023 performance.

This is an early test for how Eliot Wolf and Jerod Mayo will react to potential team drama. They can increase Judon’s 2024 salary, similar to what happened with Trent Brown a year ago, without adding any years. The hope would be Judon would be “happy enough” to rejoin the team and perform his best in 2024. New England can take a hard stance and force him to play under his signed contract, fining him if he refuses to participate. An extension could still be worked out between the two sides, though it is tough to say how far apart they are in negotiations. The fourth option would be trading him.

The New England Patriots’ new brain trust needs to be careful how they handle this situation. They need Matthew Judon on the field playing to his full capacity. But they also will be setting a precedent on how they deal with difficult contract situations like Judon’s. How will this resolve itself? Stay tuned.