Will the Patriots sign Matthew Judon? Why a reunion with ex-Dolphins LB seems unlikely – NBC Sports Boston

The New England Patriots could use some quick help. They rank 23rd in the NFL in sack rate (5.8%) and 22nd in opponents’ average time to throw (2.87 seconds) and struggled to put consistent pressure on Josh Allen in last Sunday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills.

So it’s natural that eyebrows would be raised in New England after the Miami Dolphins reportedly released Matthew Judon, a four-time Pro Bowler who amassed 32 sacks in three seasons with the Patriots from 2021-2023.

But for those contemplating the return of “red sleeves” to Gillette Stadium, some context is necessary.

For starters, Judon’s production has declined significantly since he left New England; he had zero sacks and just three quarterback hits in 13 games with the Dolphins, which explains why Miami parted ways with the 33-year-old.

Then there’s the question of when his tenure with the Patriots ends.

Judon had a lengthy contract dispute with New England in the summer of 2024, during which the veteran hosted on-field conversations with then-head coach Jerod Mayo and executives Eliot Wolf and Matt Groh; skipping training camp practice; and publicly expressing his dissatisfaction with his contractual situation.

This dispute finally came to a head in August 2024, when the Patriots traded Judon to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for a 2025 third-round draft pick.

And while New England’s decision to trade Judon was mostly business-related — many NFL executives were surprised the Patriots were able to find a third-rounder for Judon, according to Patriots insider Phil Perry — it also appears he was at odds with several members of the organization.

“Judon was not as well-liked by the coaches and front office staff as one might have thought,” said Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Boston Sports Tonight shortly after the exchange. “That was really part of the problem in the end, was that they were just sick of him.

“They felt like there was the Judon in front of the audience, and then there was the Judon behind the scenes. The Judon behind the scenes had sort of become a bit of an operator, and his action had weakened with the people inside the building. And that’s something that was also a problem in Baltimore, quite honestly.”

There has been a lot of turnover in Foxboro since the Judon trade, with head coach Mike Vrabel importing almost an entirely new coaching staff. So it’s possible they have a slightly different opinion of the veteran passer.

Still, Vrabel repeatedly stressed the importance of building a positive culture with a locker room of players who get along and are on the same page. And despite the Patriots’ need for rushing help, Judon doesn’t seem to fit Vrabel’s long-term vision for his club.