Judon: ‘We’ve got new expectations’
Star defender opens up about Belichick, Jones, Mayo
Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon hasn’t played football since Week 4 of last season, when he tore his bicep during a blowout loss to the Cowboys.
By the sound of his interview Wednesday on the NFL Network, Judon is itching to get back.
The Patriots’ four-time Pro Bowler covered several topics on the network’s morning show, “Good Morning Football,” including Bill Belichick’s exit, whether Mac Jones is broken and the dawn of the Jerod Mayo era. Judon expressed excitement about playing for Mayo and reiterated he’s fully recovered from his injury; something he said last month in the lead-up to the Super Bowl.
Speaking about Belichick, Judon indicated he believed the timing was right for the head coach and organization to part ways.
“It was amazing to learn from (Belichick). But I think just with him leaving, I think it’s just new energy and new life in the building. Sometimes it’s just time,” Judon said. “And I think it was just kind of one of those times.”
The 31-year-old added he thinks the Patriots will “try to run through a wall” for Mayo because of his coaching style and history with the team. Though Mayo only worked as an assistant for five seasons, his relationships with players became an obvious cornerstone of his philosophy. Since being hired as head coach, Mayo has repeatedly emphasized how important those connections are to him, one of the many differences between his regime and Belichick’s 24-year run as head coach.
“I think with the hiring of Mayo, bringing in somebody that’s been actually there for those years — that understands player perspective and coaching and how Coach Belichick actually ran the system — I think bringing in somebody like that, instead of somebody that’s outside that didn’t know at all, kind of helped us,” Judon said. “It kind of helped us because I think Mayo (saw) it going one way, and he’s trying to get it to go a different way.
“And so, right there, we’ve got new life. We’ve got new expectations.”
As for Jones, Judon said he did not know whether the young quarterback would return. The Patriots are reportedly expected to try and move Jones this offseason under Mayo and new de facto general manager Eliot Wolf. Multiple NFL executives have told the Herald that Jones should fetch in the neighborhood of a fifth-round pick.
However, Judon said he still believes Jones can succeed as a starting quarterback — if he’s “comfortable.”
“When Mac was comfortable, and he had a good system, he produced and he put up numbers,” Judon said. “And when you said we scored 45-7 (versus Cleveland in 2021), Mac Jones led that team. We know he can do it. He has to find his confidence, his stride, and get a rhythm under him. And it’s going to be difficult — it’s his fourth (offensive coordinator) in four years.”
Judon dismissed the notion that Jones was broken, despite the fact he was benched for the team’s final six games.
“Nah, I think once you catch a stride, catch a rhythm — that’s what they were talking about with Baker (Mayfield),” Judon said. “Now we’re talking about (Mayfield) being one of the first people off the board in free agency.”
Patriots veterans will return to the facility next month for the start of Organized Team Activities (OTAs). Judon has not participated in OTAs the past few offseasons. Whenever he returns, he’ll be reunited with new outside linebackers coach Drew Wilkins, who coached Judon to two Pro Bowls in Baltimore. Wilkins was one of the few outsiders to join Mayo’s defensive staff, along with ex-Packers defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery.
Judon’s contract will be a storyline to watch heading into next season. He is entering the last year of his deal, which the team restructured during a holdin last summer. The sides agreed to terms on a revised, two-year contract worth $22.5 million, including $14 million guaranteed.
The team moved $3 million from Judon’s scheduled 2024 base salary up to 2023, which combined with $4 million of Judon’s original base equated to a $7 million signing bonus. The contract now includes one void year for salary cap purposes. Judon’s contract now carries just a $6.5 million base salary for 2024 — well below market rate for players of his caliber — and is scheduled to void the day before the next franchise tag period opens in February 2025.