On Monday, the New England Patriots kicked off their organized team activity portion of the offseason, but one key member of the defense, edge rusher Matthew Judon, was notably absent. Head coach Jerod Mayo mentioned in a press conference that Judon has been in and out during this offseason and has followed a similar approach in previous seasons. Last summer, Judon did limited work at training camp before signing a revised deal with the team that runs through this season with a base salary of $6.5 million. It was reported that $3 million of this year’s compensation was moved into last year’s contract.
Although there have been no reports of Judon seeking a new contract this year, any absence that continues into mandatory work could potentially indicate a desire for a contract renegotiation. Judon has been an important member of the Patriots defense since joining the team in 2017 and has recorded 29 sacks over his three seasons with the team. However, his absence from organized team activities could be seen as a way to leverage his value and potentially earn a more lucrative contract extension or restructured deal.
Mayo emphasized that Judon’s absence is not related to any issues with his performance or attitude on the field and that he has always been professional throughout his time with the team. However, it remains to be seen whether Judon will return to organized team activities or continue to miss them in order to make his point about his worth to the organization.
