Patriots

Matthew Judon gives candid breakdown of where his contract situation stands with Patriots

"I’ve signed the deal, my signature is on it, so I’ve got to play on it. Would I like to? No. Do I think that’s my value? No."

By Khari Thompson

July 24, 2024

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Matthew Judon made it clear on Wednesday that he is not happy with his current contract.

The Patriots star linebacker is entering the final year of his deal and had a cap hit of $14,675,848 according to Sportrac.

Judon participated at practice on Wednesday and spoke to the media. He said he will play on the contract despite his displeasure with it.

“I’ve got to (play), honestly,” Judon said. “I’ve signed the deal, my signature is on it, so I’ve got to play on it. Would I like to? No. Do I think that’s my value? No. But again, that’s not up to me.”

The Patriots have rewarded players such as Mike Onwenu, Christian Barmore, and Kyle Dugger with massive contract extensions, but have had trouble reaching a deal with Judon.

The four-time Pro Bowl linebacker said it’s tough going into the final year of his deal feeling undervalued while others are getting new deals.

“You kind of look at everybody around the league and in the building,” Judon said. “You see them getting deals done and worked out and its tough to not be jealous or envious or something like that but honestly I have to focus on myself. … I’d pay myself a lot of money and stay around here for a long time, but it’s not up to me.”

Judon said he does not want to be traded. But, he turns 32 next month and is coming off of an injury that sidelined him for all but four games last season. While he made four of the last five Pro Bowls, his age and last year’s injury situation may mean the Patriots have reservations about committing more money to him.

“I feel like when you’re traded it’s like you don’t have any say in it, it’s like they just come and tell you ‘hey bro you’re leaving.’ I don’t think nobody wants to be traded honestly,” Judon said.

Judon has been outspoken about how much he wants to stay with the Patriots, citing his relationships in the locker room as a reason why.

He joked the doesn’t want to move again because he’s “lazy,” but also mentioned the organization’s ability to both retain current players and bring back former players like Matthew Slater and Dont’a Hightower in different roles as a positive aspect of the team’s culture.

“There’s a lot of guys that get in here, get in the locker room, and they get addicted to it,” Judon said. “It’s an addicting locker room, it’s an addicting culture in there and that’s what I want to be around. We communicate football on the defensive end on a very high level and I love it.”

Judon said he hopes that he can reach a deal with the Patriots, but also accepts that there’s a chance that it won’t happen.

“I hope I can play here this year,” Judon said. “I hope I can continue to contribute to this defense and be a catalyst to one of the best defenses in the league since I’ve been here and for a very long time. But if that’s not the case, that’s not the case.”