After parting ways with legendary head coach Bill Belichick and trading quarterback Mac Jones to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New England Patriots decided it was time to start from scratch. They hired Jerod Mayo as their new head coach and brought in a potential franchise quarterback, rookie Drake Maye.
As the team embarks on a rebuilding process that could take years for the storied franchise to regain its footing in the AFC, the general consensus has been that the team wouldn’t commit to players long-term except for promising young talents like Maye.
In light of this, it was believed that the team’s star player, veteran linebacker Matthew Judon, could be traded despite his desire for a lucrative contract extension with the Patriots.
Judon has consistently been a productive player for New England, making the team formidable during tough times. However, committing to him on a long-term basis doesn’t align with the team’s current strategy.
According to Taylor Kyles of Patriots on CLNS Media, the main issue in negotiations between the Patriots’ management and Judon is the guarantee of his contract for the next few years.
“I don’t think they’re negotiating about 2024. I think they’re negotiating about the guarantee for 2025 and 2026,” Kyles said.
Before last season, where he only played four games for the Patriots, Matthew Judon had been named to the Pro Bowl for four consecutive seasons and seemed to inherit the mantle as the team’s best player following Tom Brady’s departure to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Despite being worth the money and years he desires, the Patriots are still trying to determine their long-term plan, which might not include the veteran linebacker.
