Grade the trade idea: Jaguars acquire Matthew Judon from the Patriots

The Jacksonville Jaguars will be entering the preseason in good shape, having addressed most of their needs in free agency and the draft. That said, they could add reinforcements to some of their position groups. Their pass rush, in particular, could still use a boost, which is why the front office should consider keeping tabs on Matt Judon. Bleacher Report certainly believes that the Jags would be an ideal fit for the four-time Pro Bowl nod and came up with a trade pitch.

Kristopher Knox of B/R put together a list of potential destinations for Judon and Jacksonville made the cut. He points out that he would round out their pass-rush rotation and they would be able to afford him even after handing out several top-market contracts to their own players in the offseason.

"Partnering Judon with star pass-rusher Josh Hines-Allen and ascending defender Travon Walker would help ensure the Jags aren't wasting their investment in Lawrence. Hines-Allen and Walker both reached double-digit sacks in 2023, but no other player on the roster topped 3.5 quarterback takedowns.

Jacksonville only added Trevis Gipson (11 sacks in four seasons) and seventh-round rookie Myles Cole to its edge rotation this offseason. Adding Judon to the mix would, theoretically, give Jacksonville one of the top pass-rushing trios in the entire NFL. That could prove invaluable in an AFC South that features young, dynamic quarterbacks in C.J. Stroud and Anthony Richardson.

Stroud and Richardson may stand in Jacksonville's way as it looks to return to the playoffs after narrowly missing out in 2023, and Judon could help the Jags face that challenge. With $26.3 million in cap space, they can afford to sign the 31-year-old for the long term."

Judon, a fifth-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2016, has spent the last three seasons with the New England Patriots. He's entering the last year of his current deal and has made it clear that he doesn't plan to suit up unless he gets an extension. The Grand Valley State product has appeared in 114 games with 82 starts, logging 66.5 sacks with 369 total tackles during his eight-year career.

A bicep injury limited Judon to just four contests in 2023. As a result, he only amassed four sacks and 16 total pressures. However, he had 30 sacks and 132 pressures in his first two seasons in Foxboro, showing that he can get to the quarterback. Having said that, he'll be 32 by Week 1, which may be why, along with the aforementioned bicep injury, the Patriots may be hesitant to give him an extension.

For his part, Judon sat out the first day of Patriots padded practice on his quest for a new deal. It was then that he got into a heated exchange with head coach Jared Mayo.

What kind of compensation the Jaguars would need to trade for Matthew Judon?

Keep in mind this isn't the first time someone suggested the Jacksonville Jaguars trade for Judon but if he is 100 percent recovered from his bicep injury, he could most definitely help them. They recently signed defensive end Rasheem Green, who would be a solid rotational piece but is not nearly as talented as Judon.

In Jacksonville, Judon would join a rotation that includes Travon Walker and Josh Allen. The two combined for 27.5 sacks last year. Trevis Gipson is currently slated to be No. 3. He's previously shown the ability to bring the heat, registering seven sacks in 2021. However, he's only had four the past two seasons.

Gipson is looking to bounce back in 2024 and could end up having a big impact. That said, adding Judon to the mix would turn the Jaguars' pass rush from good to outright dominant. Right now, he's set to have a base salary of $6.5 million, so his desire to get a pay bump is justified.

So let's say the Jags entertain the idea of trading for Judon. They would need to give him a raise, likely something around the $20 million mark. They could split the cap hit in 2024 and 2025 to have a cushion in case they need to make another move. On the other hand, they would also need to take into account New England's compensation, something Kristopher Knox didn't go over but would be needed to get a deal done.

In this case, the Patriots don't have much leverage. It doesn't make sense to keep a disgruntled player, especially one that has made it clear that wants a new contract, so maybe a third-round pick could get a deal done. Coincidentally, Jacksonville acquired an extra one in 2025, along with two fourth-rounders, after moving down six spots in the first round of this year's draft, so trading for Judon wouldn't be cost-prohibitive.

To recap, the Jaguars would need to give Judon a new deal (or a raise) and compensate the Patriots. In return, they would give their pass-rush a massive boost. All things considered, it looks like a solid deal even if it's a bit costly.

Grade: B

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