Matthew Judon and Davon Godchaux report to Patriots camp without contract situations resolved

Patriots coach Jerod Mayo said Tuesday that all Patriots players have reported to training camp, including a pair of veteran defenders who have expressed unhappiness with their current contracts.

Both linebacker Matthew Judon and defensive lineman Davon Godchaux are entering the final year of their respective contracts and looking to negotiate.

“Look, the relationship is still good, at least from my perspective,” Mayo said. “I know that their teammates definitely respect them. Those are valuable pieces of this organization and they’ve done a lot for us. Hopefully we can get something done and those guys are here. I want them here, Eliot [Wolf] wants them here, the team wants them here. There is a business aspect to everything though.”

Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler who was hampered by injuries last season, is already the highest paid player on the Patriots’ roster with a cap hit of $14,654,848 for this upcoming season according to Spotrac.

Despite missing all but four games last season, Judon has produced the same number of sacks (32) as Jacksonville’s Joshua Hines-Allen over the past three seasons.

Hinds-Allen inked a reported 5-year, $150-million deal this offseason that will pay him about double what Judon makes on a per-year basis.

Clearly, there’s a big difference between how a 26-year-old pass rusher entering his prime and and one who will turn 32 in August and is coming off a major injury are valued. However, their production hasn’t been too far off in recent years.

How durable Judon will be this season and beyond remains to be seen. Last season was the only time in his career he missed more than three games in a regular season. He played all 17 games in 2021 and 2022 before his injury sidelined him in 2023.

Godchaux, 29, posted 56 tackles last season and started all 17 games for a Patriots defense that held rushers to an NFL-best 3.3 yards per carry last season. His cap hit of $11,800,000 is third on the Patriots behind Judon and cornerback Jonathan Jones.

Last month Godchaux posted a message on social media platform X that said he wants to be in New England long term, but needs a deal that makes financial sense for him.

“Hopefully we can get something done that’s fair to me and my team before camp starts!” Godchaux posted. “I love NE, I would love to retire here but it has to make sense for us! What I do on the football field in the trenches most of time doesn’t show on the stat sheet but turn on the film you will see it if ‘U know’ ball! Would love to finish my career here in NE but it has to make sense to me and my team!”

Mayo said the Patriots are going to do “everything possible” to keep Godchaux and Judon. Retaining them would be good for the organization, Mayo said.

Neither player has worked out a new deal with the team, but both have showed up for training camp. Mayo said he expects them to participate in the practices.

“It’s always the expectation if you’re here, you’re going to go out there and practice and you’re going to compete. That’s what it’s all about,” he said.