By trading for two-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Matthew Judon earlier this week, the New England Patriots significantly reorganised their defensive line. Judon now plays for the Atlanta Falcons.
Just one month before the 2018 NFL regular season began, intense negotiations over a contract between the Patriots and Judon had finally come to naught. Now, three years after joining Foxboro, the 32-year-old takes his skills to the NFC.
Following Wednesday’s most recent action, a few Patriots players have begun to share their opinions on the deal; LB Joshua Uche, a four-year veteran of New England, has shared his comments most recently.
Following the Patriots’ 13–14 preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Uche was questioned about Judon’s departure. He acknowledged some respect for his now-former colleague, but noted how the group is moving forward with a “next man up mentality”:
Uche makes a valid point. When Judon was uninjured during his three seasons with the Patriots, he played a crucial role in the New England defense. In his most recent healthy season in 2022, Judon achieved his career-best with 15.5 sacks, 60 tackles, 28 QB hits, and 14 TFLs, earning him a top-ten spot in the Defensive Player of the Year rankings. Judon was under a $6.5 million contract for the final year of his initial deal with the Patriots, expressing his desire for a long-term extension and higher pay. However, despite the interest from both parties, no agreement was reached, and a trade was the outcome, with the Patriots receiving a 2025 third-round pick in return. Judon now heads to the Falcons in pursuit of a new contract, while the Patriots seek to fill the void left by the departure of their experienced pass rusher. Uche emerges as a potential candidate to assume some of Judon’s responsibilities, having signed a one-year, $3 million deal with the Patriots this summer to solidify his role in Foxboro.
Now that Uche has more opportunities to play defence, he may be able to make the much-desired leap in his fifth year of life. Year Two DE Keion White, who has distinguished himself as a top player during the Patriots’ training camp and preseason, also surfaces as a serious candidate for a significant jump in New England’s front seven.
