FOXBORO — Matthew Judon is not pleased with his Patriots contract. He does not believe it properly reflects his status as a perennial Pro Bowler and New England’s best defensive player. He wants a new deal, plain and simple.
But the edge rusher’s contract qualms aren’t keeping him off the field in Patriots training camp, and if his issues aren’t resolved by Week 1, he said he’ll begrudgingly honor his current salary.
“I mean, I’ve got to, honestly,” Judon said Wednesday after New England’s first camp practice. “I signed the deal, my signature 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.”
Judon, who turns 32 next month, is coming off a torn biceps that ended his 2023 season in October. The Patriots adjusted his contract last summer to give him a short-term raise, but he’s now set to earn just $6.5 million in salary in the final year of the four-year, $54.5 million deal he signed in 2021.
New England has handed out new contracts like candy in the post-Bill Belichick era, re-signing or extending nearly a dozen veterans from last season’s squad. The latest additions to that list were running back Rhamondre Stevenson and linebacker Jahlani Tavai, who both inked extensions during the break between spring practice and training camp.
Judon’s reps, however, have yet to reach an agreement.
“Honestly, it’s tough going into the last year of the deal,” said Judon, who was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. “You kind of look at everybody around the league and in the building, and you see them getting deals done and worked out, and it’s tough to not be jealous or envious or something like that. But, honestly, I’ve got to focus on myself. I’m happy for those guys. As much as everybody wanna see me stay around here for a long time, it’s really not up to me. I’d pay myself a lot of money and just stay around here for a long time — but it’s not up to me.
“So, you’ve got to ask those guys that are making those decisions. And they’re trying to do what’s best for the team, rightfully so and understandably. They’re trying to put us in the right spot to win games, and leverage everybody’s contract and the right situation, make sure the salary cap is right. So, where, if we get into a tough spot later in the year, we can sign players and whatnot. But it’s not up to me, I’d pay myself a lot of money and then just be cool with it.”
Judon directed all questions about the details of the negotiations to Patriots personnel executives Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh. But he stressed that he very much “would love to stay here forever.”
“I hope I can play here this year,” he said. “I hope I can continue to wear the red sleeves, continue to contribute for this defense, 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.”
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