Could the New England Patriots end up trading edge rusher Matthew Judon this week?
Marcus Mosher of Pro Football Talk thinks it’s a possibility.
Judon is entering the final year of his deal, and with the Patriots clearly in rebuilding mode with a new regime and a very thin roster, he doesn’t fit the team’s timeline any longer.
The soon-to-be-32-year-old played in just four games this past season after tearing his biceps. When he was on the field, he was still productive, logging 13 tackles and four sacks, so he should still have trade value.
Mosher notes that this year’s draft class is not exactly ripe with elite edge-rushing talent beyond the first round, which could increase Judon’s appeal on the trade market.
Judon, who played his collegiate football at Grand Valley State, was originally selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
He played in 14 games during his rookie campaign, registering 27 tackles, four sacks and a fumble recovery. He then had a breakout year of sorts in his sophomore season, finishing with 61 tackles, eight sacks, a couple of forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Judon spent the first five years of his career with the Ravens, making back-to-back Pro Bowl appearances in 2019 and 2020.
He then went on to sign with the Patriots, where he proceeded to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first two seasons with the club. He rattled off 60 tackles, 12.5 sacks and a fumble recovery during his debut campaign in New England, and the following year, he racked up 60 tackles, 15.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and a defensive touchdown.
Mosher names the Ravens, Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints as potential landing spots for Judon in the event of a trade.
We’ll see if the Patriots decide to move Judon in the coming days.
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