Throughout training camp, the New England Patriots insisted they had positive discussions with Matthew Judon amid his desire for a new contract. Judon probably would disagree.
The star edge rusher, who was traded to the Atlanta Falcons last week, joined NBC Sports Boston on Monday to discuss his Patriots departure.
Judon kept it candid, revealing new insight into negotiations that failed to produce the contract extension he wanted.
Matthew Judon Offers Candid Take on Patriots Negotiations
While speaking with NBCSB’s Kayla Burton, Judon was asked to explain why he didn’t land a new deal from the Patriots.
“I don’t know. I feel like we just never sat down and really came to the table as a meeting,” Judon said. “I think that’s the biggest point. They kind of didn’t know where I was at; we kind of didn’t know where they were at. It was just always through text messages and phone calls.
“We just never sat down and actually talked about it. I think that was the biggest disconnect.”
Judon then was asked whether he ever requested a sit-down meeting with the Patriots personnel department.
“For sure, I asked,” Judon said. “I sent those messages through my agents. … But (that’s not) where we left off.”
"We never sat down and came to the table… it was just always through text message or phone calls."
Matthew Judon reveals 'biggest disconnect' between himself and the Patriots pic.twitter.com/vmwiRhrybr
— NBC Sports Boston (@NBCSBoston) August 19, 2024
Judon posted 32 sacks over his three seasons in New England, including a combined 29 sacks in 2021 and 2022. He was on a sack-per-game pace in 2023 before suffering a season-ending bicep tear.
New England received a 2025 third-round pick from the Falcons in exchange for Judon, giving Eliot Wolf and company nine picks in next year’s draft.
PFN Analysis: Did Patriots Handle Judon Negotiations the Wrong Way?
While Judon’s characterization of the negotiations might upset Patriots fans, the reality is negotiations don’t need to happen face-to-face. Many, if not most, NFL contract negotiations are done through agents — which is what they’re for.
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Consider this: During the free agency legal-tampering period, only players not represented by agents can speak directly with teams. The vast majority of free agency negotiations are done through agents, and yet deals get done.
Should the Patriots have given arguably their best player the sit-down meeting he requested? Maybe, but they still didn’t do anything wrong.
Furthermore, Judon lost the benefit of the doubt when he threw a temper tantrum during practice — never mind the fact he’s airing grievances on Boston TV shows a week after being traded.
The Patriots spent a lot of money on their players this offseason, but Judon was squeezed out. That’s just business in the NFL, whether Judon likes it or not.