Patriots star player reveals how he feels about contract negotiations
Matthew Judon, like many NFL players, believes he is underpaid but is unwilling to go through the rigmarole of a holdout. However, that does not imply he is satisfied:
You keep throwing tantrums and then not doing what you’re supposed to do? It gets old rather quickly. Last year, that was garbage. I don’t really like that. Perhaps they didn’t realize what I would be in four years. Perhaps they knew exactly what I was going to be and offered a discount. That’s just how it works.
Judon signed a four-year, $54.5 million contract in 2021, which was revised in August to raise the guarantees from $2 million to $14 million. After earning 15.5 sacks in 2022, the New England Patriots’ standout defense missed all but four games of 2023 due to a season-ending bicep injury. Here’s how things stand between Judon and the Patriots.
Judon Keeping Perspective Amid Contract Talks
Judon ranked fourth in sacks (15.5), thirteenth in TFLs (14), and fourth in quarterback hits (28) during his most recent healthy season. He’s also the primary reason the Patriots’ defense is in the top ten despite a nauseating offense. Despite only playing four games this season, he was third on the team in quarterback hits (nine) and fourth in sacks (4.0).
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Based on his 2022 stats, Judon is one of the league’s best pass rushers. However, he is the 15th highest-paid DE/OLB, trailing Demarcus Walker, Harold Landry, and Dre’Mont Jones.
| Matt Judon’s Stats as a Patriot | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stat Category | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Games | 17 | 17 | 4 |
| Sacks | 12.5 | 15.5 | 4 |
| Tackles | 60 | 60 | 13 |
| Tackles for Loss | 14 | 14 | 5 |
| QB Hits | 25 | 28 | 9 |
| Forced Fumbles | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Reaching free agency immediately following a career year is the best way to be compensated, but due to the salary cap’s numerous machinations, this is not always possible. For his part, Judon is keeping things in perspective.
It’s like, okay, I could be getting paid a lot more… or y’all might not know my name, and I could be broke, living paycheck to paycheck, or struggling. I’m quite fortunate to be in this circumstance. I won’t take it for granted.
It also appears that the two parties aren’t far off on a prospective extension, as the Pro Bowler phrased it:
Bro, I’m now in the building. We’re not far apart, you sense me. You saw me with my helmet and shirt on yesterday. I am not mad…
Judon will have to weigh the security of a long-term contract against the possibility of a larger paycheck in free agency if he can replicate his 2022 performances. That could be a difficult challenge without the best defense coach in history putting players in the appropriate positions.
