Patriots Tipped to Reunite With Former Pass-Rusher

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Thomas Valentine | Last updated Jul 7, 2025 12:40 PM ET

The New England Patriots invested heavily throughout free agency, spending more money than any other team in the offseason. The goal was to invest heavily across the board, particularly at high-value positions, and to improve upon a 4-13 record in 2024—the Patriots' third successive losing season.

The defensive line was a key point of emphasis, with the team adding Milton Williams and Harold Landry III, both projected to start, and a host of other names through free agency and the draft. The big names must hit the ground running if the Patriots want to improve drastically.

According to Kurt Benkert of Bleacher Report, the Patriots should be considering another big name to come in and bolster their defense. That man is former Patriots’ edge rusher Matthew Judon, who spent three years with the team and notched 32 sacks in that time.

Judon spent the 2024 season with the Atlanta Falcons following an offseason trade with the Patriots; however, the veteran pass-rusher earned just 5.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits in 17 games and couldn’t lift a Falcons’ defense that has consistently struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks.

“I think they could use a little more edge help. Matt Judon got paid a little bit. He can go back on a team-friendly deal,” said Benkert on the Bleacher Report NFL Daily podcast. “Vrabel’s got the culture back. Matt Judon liked the culture before. …Bring Matt Judon back to the Patriots.”

The Patriots' defense has improved on paper, but they could still use all the help they can get on the edge. The team finished with the fewest sacks (28) in the NFL in 2024, and Keion White led the team with just five sacks. Williams and Landry help, but Judon could also provide excellent depth. However, a lot may need to happen for a reunion to manifest.

Judon spent most of his final season with the Patriots on the sidelines after suffering a torn biceps muscle. He couldn’t figure out a contract extension with the team during the offseason, leading to “animated discussions” at training camp. It didn’t take long for Judon to be traded after that.

Whether there is lingering animosity between the two sides remains to be seen. Still, if Judon is willing to settle for a rotational role and maybe take a cheaper veteran deal, there’s hope the two sides can let bygones be bygones and reunite once more.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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