Matthew Judon is coming off a full bicep tear that limited him to only four games in 2023. During those four games, Judon was ultra-productive. He recorded four sacks, five hits, and seven hurries in his limited time. Judon proved last year that he still has plenty left in the tank at 31 years old. Some have questioned whether Judon will be able to return to his old self in 2024. A full bicep tear is not an easy injury to overcome. Coupled with his contract expiring after the season, he looks like a prime trade candidate.
The New England Patriots are still in the process of a rebuild, and having an aging edge rusher will not significantly change their fortunes this season. Instead, they should look to move Judon, recover some additional assets, and let their younger talent play to see what they have in the locker room. If they trade Judon, the Kansas City Chiefs should be looking to add him to their already talented roster.
With the Chiefs looking to repeat in 2024, they need to continue to improve their roster. They have strengthened the offensive side of the ball via free agency and the draft, but they have not invested heavily in the defensive side during the offseason. They did re-sign Chris Jones, who is an All-Pro defender, but the champs should be looking to solidify their defensive line even more. Adding Matthew Judon would instantly bolster their defensive front. Chris Jones, George Karlaftis, Mike Danna, Chris Omenihu, and Felix Anudike-Uzomah would all benefit from the attention Judon would draw from opposing offenses, allowing them to face less pressure and elevate their performance on the defensive line. If you thought Chris Jones and Matthew Judon were game-wreckers before, just wait until they are paired together.
The obvious hurdle for a Judon trade to Kansas City would be compensation. The Chiefs would likely have to hand over a Day 3 draft pick and offer Judon a new contract. Those details would most likely be sorted out before the trade officially happens. However, the Chiefs could give Judon an extension and prorate some of his money over the life of the deal. Cap gymnastics, as they call it. Bringing in this sort of talent to enhance an already dominant defensive line is a no-brainer for Kansas City.
