Judon & Patriots Tension Rises, Godchaux Signs Two-Year Deal

One of the most prestigious organizations in football has been very busy this offseason as the Patriots moved on from Bill Belichick after 20+ years and drafted their new QB in North Carolina’s Drake Maye. Amid these highly covered events, one storyline has seemingly gone under the radar. Veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon has been holding out of camp as he seeks a new contract extension.

Judon is without question the best pass rusher that New England has on its roster, especially with young star defensive tackle Christian Barmore currently dealing with an indefinite medical issue. However, the truth of the situation is that Judon is getting older and could potentially fetch decent trade value if the Patriots are unwilling to pay him. Furthermore, at 31 years of age, he is coming off an injury-riddled season in which he only played four games. Despite the limited action, he was still very effective when on the field, registering four sacks and nine QB hits.

With fellow defensive lineman Davon Godchaux agreeing to a two-year extension with the team, it may limit the ability for Judon and New England to reach a deal moving forward. Godchaux taking $21 million off the books certainly will play a factor in ongoing discussions, and it sends a message from the organization that there is a desire to get deals done. Yet, the question remains whether or not the team and Judon will be able to agree to terms before the NFL regular season begins. With preseason starting this week with the NFL Hall of Fame game, the time is quickly ticking for a potential extension.